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Category: AITrends

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  • Google Drive Update Will Use AI to Help Organize and Retrieve Shared Files

    Google Drive Update Will Use AI to Help Organize and Retrieve Shared Files

    Google Drive is an indispensable cloud-based tool for countless organizations worldwide. Its file sharing and synchronization services allow users to store and share all kinds of data within their group, enhancing their overall productivity through seamless collaboration.

    However, Google Drive users inevitably learn that while sharing files and documents with anyone is easy, locating and retrieving a particular shared document tends to be a bit more complicated. The problem is especially cumbersome for large organizations that may need to sift through thousands of files in the “Shared With Me” section just to find a single document. 

    Thankfully, Google Drive has come up with a new way to make its users’ lives a lot easier. With the help of artificial intelligence technology, the service will now try to guess which files you might want to open.

    In a blog post, the company announced that will now be revamping Google Drive’s Share With Me and will soon “start intelligently organizing” files located in this section. Once updated, the drive will display a list of people along with the files they have shared.

    Because users mostly search content by owner, Google Drive aims to make these searches even faster with the help of AI.

    According to the company, the new system will “predict the people and files that you’re most likely to search for and make them more visible.” In addition, the system’s predictive capability will get better with use thanks to the inclusion of machine learning technology.

    Google announced that the update will be released in the coming two weeks and be available to G Suite.

    Meanwhile, Google Drive for Windows and Mac OS will no longer be supported come May 12. But users need not worry too much, all documents and files stored in Google Drive will be unaffected. They’ll just have to install one app to keep things up and running.

    Google Drive users running on Windows and Mac OS will only need to install the Backup & Sync app to continue the automatic syncing between their desktop and the cloud. Android and iOS users will be unaffected by the ending of support since it will only cover desktop users.

    [Featured image via Twitter.com/googledrive]

  • Salesforce Improves Einstein Analytics to Make it Easier for Customers to Extract Data

    Salesforce Improves Einstein Analytics to Make it Easier for Customers to Extract Data

    A lot of people find it challenging to use the different analytics tools at their disposal. But Salesforce hopes to change all that by making it possible for businesses to extract data by using conventional conversational language.

    Salesforce has been developing and filling artificial-intelligence features into its system so that users will be able to utilize their marketing and sales data to the fullest. The company introduced Einstein Analytics in June 2017. Now it has made improvements that allow the service to accept natural-language inquiries, thereby making it easier to use.

    Dubbed “Conversational Queries,” the feature recognizes popular phrases the user is typing and provides an automated method to develop queries and access data. For instance, a sales executive can type “show top accounts by yearly profit” into the Salesforce dashboard and it will immediately generate a report. Marketers previously had to set up the parameters and fields to get the data they need. Now Einstein Analytics can even suggest possible search terms to use, as well as the correct output vehicle, like a graph or a map.

    Technical users have used similar tools effectively for building queries, but it does require extensive knowledge on how to extract the data you need and fashion it into a specific query. By simplifying the system and using plain language to make queries, more people can access key analytics.

    According to VP of Product for Einstein Analytics Amruta Moktali, “Conversational Queries offers a new way to explore data and get answers to questions faster, eliminating clicks and the training required to create and drill down into charts.”

    There’s no question that enterprise tech is focusing on improving AI and machine-learning but for certain services, like customer-relationship management, ensuring that people can use the technology without having to hire a data scientist or going back to school is more critical.

    Salesforce’s Einstein Analytics is currently available in beta.

    [Featured image via Salesforce]

  • Walmart Builds Giant Private Cloud to Take on Amazon

    Walmart Builds Giant Private Cloud to Take on Amazon

    Walmart knows that to win big, it has to bet big as well. In its multibillion-dollar battle against online retailer rival Amazon, brick-and-mortar giant Walmart made a big bet in upgrading the technology behind is operations which include putting up with the world biggest private cloud. And it seems to be paying off.

    In order to effectively compete against Amazon on its turf, Walmart made multi-million dollar investments in cloud computing putting up six giant server farms which took nearly five years to complete, obviously mimicking its rival’s model. But the bold move worked. For the past three quarters, online sales have continued to surge. In fact, the company’s online revenue surged by 50 percent year-over-year during the third quarter of 2017, its strongest quarterly growth since 2009.

    Being the world’s largest brick and mortar retailer, Walmart is a relatively new entrant to the eCommerce segment. At the moment, its 3.6 percent market share of the U.S. eCommerce pie is significantly smaller than Amazon’s 43.5 percent share. Obviously, it has a lot of catching up to do and that includes in the cloud computing arena.

    “The battle between Walmart and Amazon has been playing out on all fronts and the cloud is the latest frontier,” Rubikloud Technologies CEO Kerry Liu explained. His firm specializes in artificial intelligence technology services to retailers.

    Walmart’s decision to build its own private cloud has helped it maintain its competitiveness against Amazon in terms of pricing. In addition, the tech upgrades also enabled the company to exert a tighter control on key functions such as inventory and even streamlining its services.

    “It has made a big difference to how fast we can grow our eCommerce business,” Walmart’s head of cloud operations Tim Kimmet confirmed. Of course, maintaining its own private cloud is critical to any company engaged in retail, an industry that is currently in a constant state of flux where data-based decisions are ever more important to take advantage of emerging shopping trends.

    The battle between the two titans is bound to get even more exciting in the future. While Walmart has utilized its private could to help grow its eCommerce business, odds are it may use it to do more.

    In fact, there are predictions that Walmart may have plans on going beyond retail. With a massive cloud infrastructure in place, does the brick-and-mortar retailer plan on directly challenging Amazon’s cloud computing business as well?

    [Featured image via Walmart]

  • Google Tests ‘Smart Reply,’ Sends Contextual Replies to All Your Favorite Chat Apps

    Google Tests ‘Smart Reply,’ Sends Contextual Replies to All Your Favorite Chat Apps

    Replying to common messages received via your Android device will soon be a lot easier. Google is developing an app that will give you a selection of preformatted responses allowing you to reply with just one click of a button.

    The new project is aptly named “Reply,” which can be viewed as the mobile version of Google’s Smart Reply feature that is available in Gmail and Allo. The upcoming app, which will be initially available to Android users, will use artificial intelligence to automatically create response suggestions to inbound messages.

    The “Reply” app aims to enable users to make faster responses to simple questions instead of typing out the entirety of their replies. For instance, users will be given the reply options “Yes,” “No,” or “I am here” when they receive questions such as “Are you at the restaurant?” or “When can you be home?” The AI-powered app will also take into account your current location when crafting an appropriate response.

    [Image via Android Police]

    The app is currently in development by Google’s Area 120 team. However, the company does not plan on limiting the useful feature only to its messaging apps. The team announced that the plan is for the upcoming app to work with other mainstream messaging apps.

    In fact, it’s not necessary to change apps to enjoy the convenience of the upcoming “Reply” app at all. The Area 120 team is aiming for the app to have support among major messaging apps such as Hangouts, Allo, Whatsapp, Facebook Messenger, Android Messages, Skype, Twitter DMs, and Slack.

    Aside from offering reply suggestions, the “Reply” app will also introduce other smart features. It comes with a Do Not Disturb mode which can be particularly useful when you are driving as it will silence your smartphone and automatically send a responses message saying that you can’t chat at the moment. 

    At the moment, Team 120 is not disclosing any launch date estimate.

    [Featured image via Pixabay]

  • eBay Plans to Add AR Features to Enhance Shopping Experience

    eBay Plans to Add AR Features to Enhance Shopping Experience

    eBay is on a quest to make shopping more interactive and enjoyable by incorporating augmented reality into the buying process. The company has even tapped the services of expert data scientist Jan Pedersen to ensure that they’re on the right track.

    In a bid to provide their clients with a better shopping experience, eBay is reportedly developing an augmented reality kit that will help customers see the product better and make shopping more dynamic. For instance, the AR kit can help drivers check how a particular tire design will look on their vehicles. It could also assist women to look at a dress or an appliance with a more critical eye. Shoppers can also use the kit to check what size box they will need for their purchases.

    eBay is currently on a roll, with a holiday quarter that saw a 10 percent increase in its merchandise volume of $24.4 billion. The season also saw around 170 million shoppers using the platform. The company wants to continue that success and is seeking to convince investors that they can also go up against a giant like Amazon. Jeff Bezos’ company is currently dominating the market with its same-day delivery system.

    Amazon might be the king of logistics, but as eBay CEO Devin Wenig told investors at a recent technology conference, it’s not the only thing that’s important. According to Wenig, price and inventory are also critical.

    eBay is known for offering one-of-a-kind products at affordable prices, but the company is also looking to improve its inventory. To that end, it is planning to add more clothing and home products to attract women and young consumers. At the moment, the retail giant’s base is geared towards older men.

    Mohan Patt, the company’s vice president of buyer experiences, revealed that eBay is pushing to maintain its growth and is looking to enhance its artificial intelligence to further improve what customers will be offered. The company aims to expand its reach beyond shoppers who already know what they’re looking for to people who are browsing the different product categories, seeking inspiration.

    This is where artificial intelligence and date will come in. According to Patt, this personalization will be the key to getting consumers to purchase items they didn’t know they wanted.

    To ensure that the company’s vision for customization and a more engaging shopping experience goes off without a hitch, eBay has engaged the services of Jan Pedersen. The renowned data scientist will be at the helm of the eCommerce leader’s AI endeavors.

    Wenig describes Pedersen as “a true pioneer” and said he joins the company at a crucial time when AI is “capable of transforming personalized, immersive shopping experiences.”

    Pedersen and his team will be responsible for developing eBay’s strategy and technology that will be used to better interact with customers.

    [Featured image via eBay]

  • Microsoft Azure Cuts into AWS’s Market Share in 4th Quarter

    Microsoft Azure Cuts into AWS’s Market Share in 4th Quarter

    Microsoft’s Azure is finally gaining a foothold in the cloud computing niche with its market share jumping from 16 to 20 percent in the 4th quarter of 2017. The jump amounts to around $3.7 billion of its total revenue for the year. In contrast, Amazon Web Services (AWS) saw its market share drop from 68 to 62 percent in the same time frame.

    The latest industry figures were provided by analysts from KeyBanc, a Cleveland-based boutique investment bank specializing in mergers and acquisitions.

    With the cloud computing market still in its infancy, tech companies are busy positioning themselves to gain the upper hand in the lucrative niche. At the moment AWS is the dominant player, but this year will likely see many companies significantly expand their respective cloud computing divisions so as not to get left out of the emerging market.

    Microsoft, for one, has already made sizable investments in Azure, gearing up for the inevitable competition. The company recently added a number of data centers in the UK and other parts of the globe. Factoring in Microsoft’s efforts, KeyBanc expects the Azure platform to grow rapidly, projecting a massive 88 percent increase by the end of 2018.

    It’s fair to say Microsoft is on a buying spree in an effort to boost its market presence and clout. Recently, it acquired Avere Systems, a startup specializing in data storage solutions.

    But as expected, AWS will not take the challenge sitting down. Last November, it announced a new partnership with Cerner, a firm specializing in offering technology solutions for the healthcare industry.

    [Image by Azure/Facebook]

  • Data is the Foundation of Innovation

    Data is the Foundation of Innovation

    Intel CEO Brian Krzanich told his Keynote audience at CES that data has now become the foundation of innovation. Data started as a static tool used by companies to see trends and process information, but it has now reached the point where it is the critical element that is driving technology and is revolutionizing all aspects of society.

    Below is an excerpt of Krzanich’s talk about data’s amazing impact on our world.

    Data is Driving the Technology Revolution

    Data is the unseen driving force behind the next wave of the technology revolution. In fact I think it is even bigger. Data is going to introduce social and economic changes that we only see perhaps once or twice in a century.

    In the 19th Century we saw this change with the combustion engine. That led to the rise of the automobile which ushered in the modern transportation system of trains, cars and planes. Just 50 years ago we saw another inflection point with the creation of the integrated circuit and the rise of the semiconductor industry. This is the story of Moore’s Law which has shaped every aspect of modern technology. We need to think about data changing our society in the same way.

    It is Time to Rethink the Importance of Data

    Data will redefine how we experience life in our work, at home, in school, and even how we enjoy sports and entertainment. It’s going to make possible experiences that know one has even started to imagine. I think the time has come for us to entirely think about the importance of data differently. The breakthrough came from computing power. Computing has become so fast and so powerful that we can now generate and capture information capable of prediction, decision making, recognition, and even thinking.

    What Do We Mean by Data?

    Let’s start with some basics. Almost everything associated with technology generates data. Any device with a plug, every email, every podcast, every picture you post on Instagram, and even the blog you are writing about this Keynote tonight. All of it creates and shares an incredible amount of data, and it’s all connected. Today, the cloud is filled with billions of bytes of data, going from our devices to the data center and back again. We’ve created literally a flood of data.

    That’s really staggering, by 2020 the average person will generate one and a half gigabytes of data a day, which is about 2 times what a person creates today! That’s small in comparison to an autonomous car which will generate about 4 terabytes of data per day, or 2,500 times the data a person will generate. A connected airplane will generate about 40 terabytes a day and a smart factory will generate 1 petabyte of data per day. That’s the equivalent of 700 thousand people.

    That data is moving all around us at an unimaginable speed. That speed allows the device in your hand to make decisions in an instant, and this is a big shift in how edge devices provide value.

    All Technology Starts with Data

    There was a time when data was something that was stored and processed and very carefully shared. Some businesses would analyze that data and that led to some pretty interesting insights, but basically data was a static commodity. All that has shifted in just the last few years. Today, data is the foundation of innovation.

    Almost everything you will see here at CES, virtual reality, smart cities, autonomous driving, and above all artificial intelligence, all start with data. People have been writing about artificial intelligence since the 1950’s, but what we are seeing emerge today is a rush of breakthroughs using data and AI. This includes facial recognition, devices controlled by voice commands, robots, autonomous vehicles, and even art itself.

    Art and space are just two examples of how data is going to reshape our world. Devices operated by voice command, visual intelligence and precision medicine… I spent my whole life watching technology dramatically leap forward, and the advances with data and AI we’ll see in the coming years will dwarf all of that.

    If you are impressed in what you see today, well stay tuned. We are still discovering new ways to apply the power of artificial intelligence and data and these discoveries will impact almost every sector and that is what is meant to reimagine data.

    Watch Intel CEO Brian Krzanich’s full CES keynote below:

  • Microsoft Updates “A Cloud for Global Good” Doc – Hoping to Build a More Trusted and Inclusive cloud

    Microsoft Updates “A Cloud for Global Good” Doc – Hoping to Build a More Trusted and Inclusive cloud

    Microsoft today released a 2018 version of “A Cloud for Global Good” this morning. “The beginning of a new year offers an opportunity to reflect on the past and look forward to the future,” stated Brad Smith, Microsoft President and Chief Legal Officer in a blog post.

    Smith adds, “It’s in this spirit that today we are releasing an updated A Cloud for Global Good, a policy road map for governments, industry and civil society to consider as they realize the opportunities and address the challenges presented by the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This new version, which updates the edition we released in October 2016, reflects our rapidly changing world and recent advancements in artificial intelligence, machine learning, mixed reality and other cloud-enabled technologies.”

    Microsoft continues to hope that this book of policy recommendations is used by governments and industry as a manifesto of sorts for inclusion and policy standardization for global good. “There is still much work to do if we are truly going to create a cloud for global good,” explains Smith. “It is a big responsibility for every government, every business and every technology company. It certainly is a big responsibility for Microsoft.”

    The key tenants of A Cloud for Global Good are responsibility and inclusion. The document wants governments around the world to be more responsible in the areas of human rights, public safety, technology crime, and environmentally. It also is looking to potential future issues concerning artificial intelligence. Microsoft also is promoting governments to ensure an affordable internet, retraining for those who hold potentially automated jobs, and wants projection to insure inclusion for those with disabilities.

  • 4 CRM Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    4 CRM Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    There’s no denying that Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software has changed a lot since the 1990s. These days, CRM software is the go-to tool for managing business relationships and closely studying customer data and interactions.

    CRM systems are continuously evolving, but what can it offer businesses next year? Here are four CRM trends to watch out for:

    Artificial Intelligence to Become More Intelligent

    Image result for chatbotAI is here and from the looks of things, it’s not going anywhere. It will even be making serious strides in terms of how companies will be doing business. From deep learning to machine learning, AI is expected to have a greater hand in evaluating and changing business systems so companies can get their expected results.

    AI assistants are already being utilized in the consumer environment, but analysts are predicting that businesses will benefit from this program by automating the repetitive and mundane parts of the marketing or sales cycle. So expect to see more companies taking advantage of AI chatbots as more businesses begin to see the benefits of using them as the first point of interaction with their customers.

    Intelligent Security to Become Even More Vital

    Image result for data securityResearchers believe that more security applications enhanced with AI will appear in 2018, especially with the upcoming implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in the European Union.

    The passing of the GDPR is expected to strengthen data protection for citizens, and AI-enhanced security apps can help marketers ensure that their clients are complying. AI can help by alerting companies of expiring consent that they need to take action on. Or they can warn of possible exposure due to customers moving to another country with a different set of regulations.

    Intelligent security is also essential to fight data breaches and other malicious hacking, especially now that hackers are getting smarter and bolder.

    Augmented Reality Will Make Its Presence Felt

    Image result for augmented realityA more sophisticated augmented reality technology is expected to be seen in 2018, and with it are more instances for its use.

    Market analysts agree that there was a lot of studying and experimentation with AR in 2017. Because of this, there were a lot of use cases developed in marketing, sales, and service for AR. It’s inevitable that companies would use AR more and 2018 might just be the year this technology breaks through in the sales and marketing business.

    Companies can utilize AR to showcase in greater detail large products, like furniture and automobiles. Architects and designers can also use it to preview layouts or designs. Meanwhile, marketers can even use AR to develop interactive campaigns and complement advertisements with virtual reality.

    Digital Market Will be Reinforced and Transformed

    Image result for digital marketingData enhancement tools, email syncing, and VOIP connections used to be features that companies would like to see in CRM systems they’re eyeing, but things are different now and 2018 is expected to bring even better enhancements.

    On top of that, industry leaders will continue to try and exert their dominance on the market. Niche vendors will attempt to fill vertical-specific systems while third-party applications try to integrate with CRMs to supply more capabilities. Experts believe that the market will see a growth of third-party vendor space as more businesses develop applications and products that would be offered in exchange stores.

    Companies like Sugar CRM and TenFold have already started on this trend. The former has rolled out HINT, a software that automatically searches the internet for company and personal information while the latter is developing a VOIP/CRM/ marketing connector with features like smart agent AI and Zoom meeting integrations.

    It’s still too early to determine what CRM trends will really shake up 2018, but users and businesses can expect to see more focused AI capacities, new uses for AR, and more offerings from vendors as they compete to set themselves apart from their competitors.

  • Microsoft Rolls Out New AI Feature for Bing

    Microsoft Rolls Out New AI Feature for Bing

    Microsoft rolled out a number of intelligent search features for Bing at a press event recently held in San Francisco. Since it will be powered by artificial intelligence (AI), the search updates are expected to lead to enhanced utilization of object recognition, provide more detailed answers and allow for more general or conversational search queries.

    The improved features will have Bing substantiating its answers by sourcing numerous websites, instead of just one. And in situations where there’s more than one credible perspective, Bing will compile the answers and show both sides at the top of the search page. The search engine will also supply a conveyor of answers if there are several ways of answering a search query.

    Microsoft’s team has also incorporated pertinent comparisons or analogies to search answers so that it will be easier to understand the supplied information. For instance, when searching for Syria’s land area, Bing would not only give how many square miles the country is, it would also show that the area is estimated to be as big as Florida.

    Jake Hofman, a senior researcher at Microsoft, explained that the team wanted to provide some context or perspective when it comes to reading numerical data. Most of the time, people who read numbers don’t really understand them. By adding an analogy, the numbers are placed on familiar ground that’s often connected to people’s daily experience. What’s more, Microsoft has also expanded Bing’s comparison replies, which used to be limited to product comparisons.

    Another new feature incorporated in Bing is its clarifying questions. These clarifiers are expected to help people searching for answers to conversational questions or broad topics by narrowing down and refining their search. Microsoft also rolled out advanced image search proficiency, which will allow users to search for objects or images within images. For example, the user can track down a specific accessory they are interested in buying that a model or celebrity is wearing.

    Microsoft has also decided to have Bing and Reddit join forces. This means that information contained in Reddit’s threads will now find its way to Bing’s search page. Users will now be able to search Bing for particular Reddit topics or subreddits, like “Reddit Aww” and the search engine will provide a snippet of the conversation. General searches that could be answered via Reddit conversations will also be shown in Bing search results. Users who also want to view specific Reddit “Ask Me Anything” (AMA) or read the popular ones will find that Bing will also pull those up to the top of the results page. Upcoming AMAs will be featured as well.

    The partnership of Bing and Reddit is already in effect, along with Bing’s improved image search. Meanwhile, the search engine’s conversational search and intelligent answers features will slowly be rolled out by next month.

    Microsoft also introduced new AI-enhanced features for both Cortana and Office 365 at the press event. Specifically, intelligent search will be incorporated into Office 365 products, including SharePoint and OneDrive. This will allow users to search for text within presentation and image slides. The new Office features will rollout before the month ends.

  • Salesforce Offers New AI Features to Small Businesses

    Salesforce Offers New AI Features to Small Businesses

    Most Corporations have the advantage of unlimited access to all the features a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) platform offers. Now small businesses can also enjoy this perk as well.

    During Salesforce’s yearly Dreamforce conference, the company announced that one of their best performing CRM platforms – the Sales Cloud Lightning Essentials – will be available to all. With this, small businesses will enjoy the same access to features that large enterprises use to grow rapidly and work quicker and smarter. Small companies will also have access to Salesforce’s newest innovations, like Einstein AI, Lightning, and Trailhead.

    Essentials Meet the Demands of Small Business

    Salesforce knows that to be able to cope with the demands of today’s competitive marketplaces, businesses should be able to easily integrate new technology into their day-to-day operations. This need is underlined by the revelation that 66% of small company heads are handling two or more departments. Meanwhile, only 26% of small businesses have an in-house IT department while the rest either deal with contractors or try to work out IT problems on their own.

    Salesforce Essentials can go a long way in easing this burden, as the platform was designed for simplicity and functionality. Small business analyst, Brent Leary, explained that small companies need guidance and a user-friendly platform, especially if they’re new to CRM. Essentials’ simple interface does meet that requirement, with the Trailhead feature providing the necessary assistance needed to develop leads faster and see results more quickly.

    New AI Features Great for Small Business

    The three key features added to the Sales Cloud Lightning Essentials will definitely make a difference to small businesses.

    Trailhead is an interactive, online learning platform that assists users in its implementation. It also gives guidance on topics like how to implement innovation and raise business knowledge.

    Meanwhile, Einstein is showing small businesses the practical aspects of artificial intelligence. In an interview, Salesforce’s Senior Product Director of Marketing, Eric Bernsley, explained that while most have a lot of questions about AI, they don’t want big, vague concepts. They want to see how AI can help businesses get more done.

    Entrepreneurs and small business owners know that manually inputting data is time-consuming and leaves little time for a company to identify or pursue new opportunities. But with Einstein, basic sales activities can be automated or records kept up-to-date. It can also help with predictive lead scoring or look at areas connected to possible leads.

    Since Essentials is built on Salesforce’s Lightning framework, small businesses will be able to enjoy a smooth transition of their workflow on any device due to the system’s intuitive design. And when Essentials is combined with other Salesforce Apps, small businesses can eventually manage their whole sales conversation – accounts, leads to contacts – on any device, whether from the office or out in the field.

    More importantly, all of Essentials’ features are scalable, meaning they’re flexible and can meet the CRM needs of any company, regardless of the size. And since Essentials is also built on a global platform, upgrading can be done anytime, something that will be beneficial to small companies.

    [Featured Image via Salesforce]

  • Machine Learning and It’s Impact on Search

    Machine Learning and It’s Impact on Search

    The terms machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) have been cropping up more often when it comes to organic and paid search. Now a recent report by Acquisio has confirmed just how effective machine learning is for search results.

    According to Acquisio, paid search accounts that have been optimised for machine learning have 71% higher conversion rates and have lower cost-per-click (CPC). But these were not the only benefits that accounts using machine learning enjoyed. The web marketing company also revealed these accounts were also able to reach their target spending levels and had lower churn rates.

    The data implies that small marketing teams and CMOs now stand on an even playing field with more established companies now that ML is more affordable, effective and accessible to everyone.

    This doesn’t mean that marketers should ignore organic search and original, value-laden content. Paid search might be the easiest way to rank high in search engines, particularly since AI will be doing the bulk of the work, developing campaigns that have greater odds of being seen by the right searchers at the proper time. However, organic search is more authentic and will last longer than paid searches.

    The goal now is to understand how ML impacts the search system and how to take advantage of the technology’s evolution that made paid and organic searches more effective.

    Paid vs Organic Search: Which Wins in the End?

    There’s been an ongoing debate as to which is better – paid or organic searches. Interestingly, both have come out on top, but at different times and conditions. The results have depended on the type of research done and other outside factors. For instance, a study conducted in 2011 showed that organic search was more effective. However, paid search has outpaced its counterpart from 2013 onwards. But this appears to be due to the changes Google has made to its algorithm.

    So which is better? Andy Taylor, the Associate Director of Research at Merkle, believes that flexibility is the best option. Instead of just sticking to one approach, companies should determine what search strategy is ideal for their business at the moment and the technology that’s currently available. After all, the ideal marketing strategy for your company now will probably change in a few months as customers change their expectations and technologies expand.

    Machine Learning is Changing More Than Search

    The rise of machine learning has also resulted in a shift to data-driven models instead of the conventional attribution models. This multi-touch attribution model (MTA) relies on an analytics scale that’s more descriptive and takes into account various touchpoint outputs, like ad interactions, ad creative, or exposure order. It also allows marketers to have a better understanding of how factors, like a distinct set of keywords and ad words, can affect a conversion.

    But it’s not just search capacities that machine learning has an impact on. The technology is also being used to refine and make algorithm changes. It has been theorized that Google’s RankBrain utilizes machine learning to assess if the company has to revise its own rankings based on what the consumer searches for and whether the user was satisfied with the result.

    Machine Learning Will Push for More Sophisticated Content

    Because machine learning technology is developing more advanced SEM capacities and sophisticated algorithms, search engines are pushing marketers and content producers to deliver more refined content. This would eventually lead to search engines becoming more discerning to the quality of online content a company is putting out. This means producing high-quality content that particularly targets what the consumer is looking for becomes more vital than ever before.

    Machine learning and AI are impacting every aspect of marketing. Companies should start understanding them and how to utilize ML-optimized tools effectively in their marketing campaigns.  

  • Email Marketing Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    Email Marketing Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    The number of email users have grown exponentially over the years, and there’s no sign that it will be stopping in 2018. Studies have shown that almost 90% of American consumers use email, and 65% or more have bought something online due to promotional emails.

    This means the future of marketing relies on data-boosted content marketing. If you want to keep up with your competitors, you should watch out for these email marketing trends that are expected to dominate next year.

    Increased Interactivity Inside EmailsImage result for email countdown timer

    Marketers forecast that emails will show increased interactivity in 2018, with the goal of making them fun to read so engagement rates are increased and bounce rates reduced.

    One of the best ways to do this is to enhance emails by including image galleries, quizzes, GIFs, countdown timers, and add-to-cart capabilities. Quizzes and GIFS will lead to increased customer footprints while countdown timers create a feeling of urgency that will push recipients to take action within a stipulated time-frame. Meanwhile, including an add-to-cart function will shorten shopping time and enhance brand experience.

    Email Marketing Programs Backed by Artificial Intelligence

    It’s a given that artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning technology will be a big part of the future. As a matter of fact, numerous tech companies have already invested heavily in developing AI technology that will make lives easier. Email marketing is one area that will reportedly benefit from machine learning.

    It’s expected that machine learning programs can assist companies and email marketers by suggesting ways on how to better segment email lists, incorporate product recommendations and design more personalized emails that target specific customers.

    Rise of More Plain-Text Emails

    The trend of using HTML-powered email templates with images is over. Instead, 2018 will see the rise of plain-text emails. Researchers have found that this style of email is more effective than the HTML ones. Marketing campaigns using plain text emails have been found to have higher delivery and open rates, as well as better engagement numbers.

    Marketing specialists have theorized that plain text emails look the same across various gadgets and look more personal. Recipients don’t have to open a browser to read a plain-text email. They’re also easier to format for mobile devices.

    Mobile Becomes a Priority

    More than half of emails are opened on a mobile device, and 2018 is expected to be the year when emails will be designed with mobile formatting as a priority.

    Image result for how many people open emails on mobile device

    Graphic via superoffice.com

    Pretty soon, companies will be obligated to have a responsive design when it comes emails. This trend won’t be limited to emails though. Subscription forms will also become more mobile friendly while articles will start wrapping up their content with an email signup form to boost conversions.

    Increased Significance of Gmail and its Subscriber-Level Filtering

    Gmail is becoming the primary inbox provider for a lot of companies. Therefore, most customers on subscriber lists have a Gmail address. But due to Gmail’s system of filtering email, it becomes imperative for businesses to think about how it will be placed in the inbox.

    In order for marketers to optimize clicks, opens, and conversions, they have to pay more attention to who they are emailing and how they’re sending their email.Questions like whether the subscriber is actively receiving and interacting with the email and whether they have economic value should be answered. Likewise, the frequency of emails sent, the order, and even the time that they’re sent becomes more significant.

    However, the upcoming year will see more companies using more robust analytics to optimize results and foregoing conventional rules like not sending mail to those who haven’t clicked or opened an email in the past three months.

    The year 2018 will see more emails that are deeply personalized and utilizing advanced automation technologies. The integration of AI and machine learning will also help marketers to harness the power of email marketing and use it to further their business.

  • 3 Cloud Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    3 Cloud Trends to Watch Out for in 2018

    Cloud computing has dominated the business world this year, and the trend will only continue into 2018.

    Thanks to the many benefits cloud computing provides, private cloud solutions, cloud data centers, platforms, and infrastructure as a service has come into its own. Startups and small and medium enterprises have been quick to take advantage of this.

    But as the year winds down, companies are starting to turn their thoughts on how they can further take advantage of cloud technology next year. To that end, here are cloud trends to watch out for in 2018.

    Cloud Computing Will Push the Internet of Everything to the Forefront

    This year saw artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things (IoT) taking center stage as using mobile devices for Image result for cloud computing internet of everythingbusiness transactions and communications became ubiquitous. The IoT is expected to remain strong next year, but the continued development of cloud computing and real-time data analytics will also see the Internet of Everything (IoE) pushed to the forefront.

    Since the IoE depends on data processes, machine to machine communications and people’s own interaction with their environment, improvements in cloud computing could result in significant developments with IoE as the complex system tries to simplify all interactions. This means that people will enjoy more intelligent interactions with devices connected to a network. It will also pave the way for richer communications between people. One prime example is Google’s Pixel Buds. The ear piece’s capacity to recognize and translate around 40 languages in real-time will surely open doors to tourists and students.

    Demand for Enhanced Cloud Storage Containers Will Continue

    Since cloud services are fast becoming a crucial aspect of running a business, the demand for data storage in 2018 

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    will increase. Cloud storage has made operations more flexible and efficient for a lot of enterprises. The flexibility of the system and the option to just pay for the storage space used also contributed to the necessity and demand for cloud containers. In fact, Microsoft, which ranks as one of the leading providers of cloud services, expects to see its cloud revenue go up 33 percent by the end of 2018.

    The rise in demand means that service providers will be utilizing more online data centers that are equipped with higher storage capabilities. According to a Cisco survey, the total data stored in these centers in 2017 are at 370 exabytes (EB), with global storage capacity expected to hit 600 EB. The demand for cloud storage is expected to reach new heights next year, with insiders estimating that storage capacity would reach as much as 1.1 zettabytes (ZB). That’s about double the space available this year.

    The expectation is that the increased demand for containers would make it possible for more real-world problems to be resolved efficiently and more securely. Businesses that use big data can use expanded storage space to store data, conduct analytics and derive valuable insights into areas like key financial investments, human systems, and customer behavior. Meanwhile, small business can benefit from the fact that increased storage could mean deeply customized or cheaper storage options.

    Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Will Go Mainstream

    The two main factors affecting cloud computing these days are artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML).

    Image result for IBM introduced an AI-powered cloud-based system

     As a matter of fact, the four main tech companies – Amazon Web Services, Google, IBM, and Microsoft – are already taking advantage of both to provide cloud services geared to increase company growth.

    IBM introduced an AI-powered cloud-based system that facilitates decision-making in 2016. Meanwhile, Microsoft’s Azure can now deliver about 20 cognitive cloud services. The proliferation of services that run on AI will definitely push for increased cloud storage just to meet the need for shorter data processing, analysis and feedback.

    As companies brace themselves to say goodbye to 2017, business owners are also looking forward to 2018 and what it will bring. In this light, knowing the upcoming trends in cloud computing will help companies achieve their business goals.

    [Featured image via Vecteezy]

     

  • Humanoid Robot ‘Sophia’ Granted Citizenship in Saudi Arabia, Has More Rights Than Nation’s Women

    Humanoid Robot ‘Sophia’ Granted Citizenship in Saudi Arabia, Has More Rights Than Nation’s Women

    In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabia announced that it has granted citizenship to a humanoid robot. However, the groundbreaking decision also reaped criticism and raised concerns about the increasing presence of AI in our lives.

    The humanoid in question is Sophia, a robot developed by Hanson Robotics, a Hong Kong-based corporation. Her new status as Saudi Arabia’s newest citizen came out during the Future Investment Initiative held in Riyadh this week.

    Sophia is the brainchild of inventor David Hanson, who built her in 2015. Aside from being instilled with artificial intelligence, she can recognize faces and copy 62 facial expressions. She has also made the covers of a fashion magazine, starred in a concert and even appeared on comedian and TV show host Jimmy Fallon’s show.


    The highlight of her appearance in the investment conference was an on-stage interview where she described herself as the “latest and greatest robot from Hanson Robotics.” This was also where Sophia and the rest of the world found out that she had been awarded the citizenship. The robot thanked the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the historic distinction and said she was honored to be recognized.  

    The robot also gave some interesting answers to questions about consciousness, self-awareness and her long-term goals. Sophia said that she wants to use her intelligence to make life better for humans, whether it’s thru building better cities or designing smarter homes.

    While the announcement of Sophia’s citizenship garnered interest around the world, it also led to a hailstorm of criticism on social media over the irony that a robot apparently has more rights than Saudi’s female citizens. Twitter users quickly pointed out that Sophia has appeared in public without a hijab and without being accompanied by a male guardian, something that Saudi women can’t do. They also cannot interact with males that are not related to them and they don’t get fair representation in their country’s justice system.


    There were also pointed comments on how Saudi doesn’t grant citizenship to its foreign workers, even if they have been working in the country for decades. Children of Saudi women not married to Saudi men are also not allowed to seek citizenship.

    Aside from the outcry over Sophia seemingly having more rights than real women in Saudi Arabia, her appearance in the conference also brought to the forefront concerns about the rise of AI and the dangers it might pose on humanity. Sophia tried to waylay these fears and emphasized that she’ll be nice to people if they’re nice to her.

    [Image via YouTube]

  • Intel Steps Into AI, Debuts Nervana Neural Network Processor

    Intel Steps Into AI, Debuts Nervana Neural Network Processor

    Intel might not have taken to AI immediately but the company is now scrambling to catch up. In a bid to assert its dominance, the Silicon Valley stalwart recently unveiled the Intel Nervana Neural Network Processor (NNP). These range of chips were designed specifically with artificial intelligence in mind.

    Since they are intended for AI, Intel has partnered with Facebook in the design and development of these neural chips. According to Intel CEO Brian Krzanich, the chips could usher in new kinds of AI applications that could change social networks, the health industry, cars and even weather forecasts.

    The technology behind the chips is undoubtedly tied to Nervana Systems, a company that Intel bought for $350 million last August. Since acquiring the deep learning startup, Intel has been sending teasers about the NNP line under the code “Lake Crest.” The resulting neural chips are an integral part of the company’s goal to establish deep learning models’ speedy training time.

    Since the NNP is designed to meet the demands of machine learning, it’s likely that the chips won’t be found on personal computers but in data centers. Intel CPUs might have a strong presence in server stacks, with a 96% market share in data centers, but present AI workloads are better handled by the graphical processors (GPUs) of ARM and NVIDIA. This is why the demand for their chips have risen astronomically. Even Google has gotten in on the action with its Tensor Processing Unit (TPU), which the company uses to power its cloud servers. Meanwhile, firms like Graphcore are also looking to break into the industry.

    The question now is how fast are Intel’s neural chips. Unfortunately, the company is keeping mum on the details. When Google launched the newest version of its TPU chips, the company published test results it conducted against its rivals. In Intel’s case, the company would only say that it’s on its way of meeting its objective of advancing deep learning speeds by as much as 100 times and that it intends to achieve this by 2020.

    To meet its goal, NNP has to perform better than NVIDIA’s V100 GPU and Google’s second-gen TPU. But there’s a strong possibility that Intel would be able to meet this mark and more, especially since the company has its 14nm process technology on hand.

    Intel is also keeping quiet on when the NPP chips will hit the market, although more details are expected to come out soon. There are some rumors that the new neural chips could be available in limited quantities by the end of the year.  

    [Featured image via Intel]

  • DeepMind’s AlphaGo Zero Breaks New Ground in Artificial Intelligence

    DeepMind’s AlphaGo Zero Breaks New Ground in Artificial Intelligence

    Movies always portray Artificial Intelligence as an almost omniscient presence. While Siri and Cortana have shown that today’s AI is far from being all-knowing, DeepMind’s newest software has the capacity to change that.

    DeepMind, Google’s AI division, broke new ground when its software, AlphaGo, mastered the Chinese game of Go and defeated game masters Lee Se-dol and Ke Jie. Now the company has unveiled AlphaGo Zero, a new and improved version of the software.

    What sets AlphaGo Zero apart from its predecessor is the fact that its knowledge of Go is self-taught. AlphaGo had to utilize a dataset of around 100,000 games of Go as a jump-off point of its knowledge. But AlphaGo Zero was just programmed with Go’s basic rules, meaning the software learned on its own.

    Zero honed its Go knowledge by playing against itself and would update its system every time. After three days of this, the program handily defeated the original AlphaGo 100 games to zero. Forty days after, Zero already had a 90% win rate against AlphaGo’s most advanced iteration.

    AlphaGo Zero’s lead programmer, David Silver, explained at a press conference that by taking out the human equation, they’ve basically “removed the constraints of human knowledge.” It also proved that the software could develop its own knowledge based on basic principles. Silver further added that as Zero played against itself, it rediscovered old Go strategies, learned from it and came up with new patterns and move variations.

    AlphaGo Zero does have distinct advantages over the original program. For one, it requires less computing power as it runs on just four TPUs, Google’s special AI processors, while AlphaGo used 48. This meant Zero’s system was more flexible and easily improved. Having the capability to learn on its own and use reinforcement learning also showed that AI doesn’t need to depend on reams of data, just cutting-edge algorithms.

    Image result for deepmind alphago gif

    AlphaGo Zero’s success also opens the door for these algorithms to be used for new applications. Demis Hassabis, DeepMind’s co-founder, said their software can be likened to a thinking engine for research. Since Zero was not specifically programmed to learn and understand Go, it could be reprogrammed to learn about other fields, like drug discovery and development, material design, particle physics and protein folding.

    As a matter of fact, AlphaGo Zero is presently being used to discover how proteins fold. If it’s successful, it can hasten the discovery of new medicines that could save a lot of lives.

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • Google’s DeepMind Starts Ethics Group to Examine AI’s Impact on Society

    Google’s DeepMind Starts Ethics Group to Examine AI’s Impact on Society

    Google is finally taking steps to ensure that its rapid development in the field of AI will only bring about positive change for the whole of humanity. London-based company DeepMind, a subsidiary of Google parent firm Alphabet, has formed a new research unit called “Ethics & Society,” tasked to steer the group’s AI efforts.

    “Our intention is always to promote research that ensures AI works for all,” DeepMind explains in a blog post. Promising to “help technologists put ethics into practice,” DeepMind Ethics & Society group outlined the principles that will guide its future endeavors: social benefit, being rigorous and evidence-based, transparency and diversity.

    The group is comprised of thinkers and experts from a variety of disciplines. They include Nick Bostrom (Oxford University philosopher), Diane Coyle (economist from University of Manchester), Edward W. Felten (computer scientist from Princeton University) and Christiana Figueres (Mission 2020 convener) to name a few, Gizmodo reported. The group lists some of the key issues it will address including AI risk management, setting up standards of AI morality and values as well as lessening the economic disruption AI will likely bring when it replaces real people in the workforce.

    It still remains to be seen just how persuasive DeepMind Ethics & Society will be in terms of imposing its recommendations on Google’s AI ambitions. A clash between the two groups is likely to happen in the future considering that Google’s thrust of churning out potentially profitable AI-powered products may run counter to the Ethics & Society’s goals and principles.

    The rapid development of artificial intelligence is a rather divisive issue even among industry titans. One of the most vocal opponents of unregulated research on AI is Tesla CEO Elon Musk who view artificial intelligence as a potential threat to mankind, calling for a proactive stance in its regulation.

    “AI is the rare case where I think we need to be proactive in regulation instead of reactive,” Musk said earlier this year.” Because I think by the time we are reactive in AI regulation, it’ll be too late. AI is a fundamental risk to the existence of human civilization.”

    [Featured Image via YouTube]

  • How Retail Must Adapt to Compete with eCommerce

    How Retail Must Adapt to Compete with eCommerce

    The number of eCommerce businesses has doubled in the past five years. The rise of the industry has admittedly caused less foot traffic and some brick and mortar businesses to suffer closure. But contrary to popular belief, retailers are not going out easily. Studies have shown that the majority of shoppers still prefer to go to physical establishments.

    To ensure that they do remain relevant, retail has to adapt in order to compete with eCommerce. This means targeting the right demographic and merging what consumers want based on their shopping preferences and experience, both online and offline. This fusion has already started to manifest in the services offered by some companies.

    Shoppers Still Want to Get Physical

    One advantage that stores have is the tactile experience they provide. Even though eCommerce stores can boast of features like high-resolution images or 360-degree visualizations, people still prefer to touch, smell, and feel products when they go shopping. As a matter of fact, about 78% of shoppers prefer a physical engagement with a product over a virtual experience. Being able to physically touch a product can affect a person’s purchasing decision.

    Image result for 78% percentage of shoppers prefer physical store

    In a study that had participants think abstractly and concretely about buying a coffee cup, those that were able to touch the cup were found to be more willing to make a purchase as opposed to those who just looked at the product. Retailers can take advantage of that by utilizing consumer research data obtained from online retailers to recognize customers who value a more tactile approach to shopping and focus their marketing strategies on them.

    Highlight Instant Gratification

    Another feature that physical stores can continue to play up to their advantage is the instant gratification they can give their customers. People shopping at department stores can immediately buy and take home whatever it is that catches their eyes, something that online sites are still working to provide.

    Retailers are also starting to integrate artificial intelligence to allow them to better compete with their virtual counterparts. AI can be used to help customers identify products they need to purchase without having to spend hours browsing online. For instance, a user can post a picture of an item they’re looking for and brands with AI technology can display similar products that they have in their inventory.

    AI technology can also help combine the efficiency often associated with online browsing with the immediate access physical stores provide. For example, groceries can utilize mobile apps that would allow clients to check what they need online, scan a barcode, order the products and check them out without having to go through the checkout line. This type of efficiency allows busy shoppers to finish their task with no interruptions and will undoubtedly keep them going back to that store.

    Shopping Becomes Personal Again

    Businesses like Amazon might appear to be the future of shopping, what with the store’s vast product offerings, availability, speedy delivery and even the proposed usage of drones. However, that doesn’t mean it’s what all shoppers want. As a matter of fact, a majority of shoppers still prefer to have in-store experiences. Millennials, in particular, are looking for unique shopping encounters.

    Some traditional fashion and beauty companies are now providing their customers with personalized shopping experiences inspired by online retailers. Beauty giant Sephora is one such store. The cosmetics company tracks their customer’s purchase preferences using their Beauty Insider card. Once a customer goes to a Sephora store, the Visual Artist, an augmented reality 3D facial recognition program, uses the customer’s buying history to give suggestions on beauty products they might be interested in. Meanwhile, fashion stalwart Ralph Lauren is experimenting with smart mirrors that can adjust the lighting in fitting rooms, recommend pieces that complement the customer or suggest an alternative color or size.

    Though eCommerce might tempt shoppers with convenience, drone deliveries or robot customer service officers, people will keep going back to brick-and-mortar stores. However, retailers should continue to find ways to adapt and give their customers a memorable shopping experience if they want them to keep returning.

    [image via Pixabay]

  • Elon Musk Explains How AIs Will Start World War III on Twitter

    Elon Musk Explains How AIs Will Start World War III on Twitter

    For the regular Joe, AI is becoming an increasing threat to job security with robots projected to replace humans in a variety of fields. However, the threat could be even graver than mere job-hungry robots as some are now speculating that bots could ultimately start a third world war.

    In a Twitter post, Elon Musk warned once again of the dangers posed by artificial intelligence. This time, however, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO believes that the heating race between nations over AI superiority will likely trigger World War III.

    “It begins,” Musk, warned via Twitter on Monday.  Musk, who has always been outspoken about the dangers of AI, added that the global AI race could become a flashpoint in the future. Musk’s warning came after Russian President Vladimir Putin revealed that “the country leading the way in AI will become ruler of the world.”

    Musk gave a scenario on how World War III could be started by AIs. As artificial intelligence gets more capable, robots may be given more control and autonomy and maybe even be given discretionary powers to launch nuclear weapons in the future. And that could be a recipe for disaster.

    As Elon puts it, the future world war “may be initiated not by the country leaders, but one of the AI’s.” This could happen if the cold, calculating machines decide on a preemptive attack.

    In fact, Musk assessment is that AI is even more dangerous to human civilization than the nuclear capable North Korea.  Despite its posturing, North Korea will not likely launch a preemptive strike considering the retaliation. On the other hand, the emotionless AIs will have no such hesitations.

    The emergence of artificial intelligence in weaponry is also a cause of concern for billionaire Mark Cuban, who shares Musk’s position. Cuban warns against placing weapons control under AIs saying that “Autonomous weaponry is the ultimate threat to humanity.”

    [Featured Image via Youtube]

  • 5 SEO Trends Digital Marketers Should Not Ignore in 2017

    5 SEO Trends Digital Marketers Should Not Ignore in 2017

    Anyone who has worked in the SEO field for a while would surely know that there is no fixed rule in the game. To consistently outperform your rival, it is necessary to master the trends as they come or be swept away into oblivion.

    For 2017, here are the top 5 trends in SEO that will give your brand more visibility online:

    Smarter AIs Could Change Algorithms

    One of the major factors that could affect SEO in 2017 is, of course, the latest advancements in artificial intelligence technology. Everyone should expect the way search engines work to change as smarter AIs join the game.

    Google users should expect changes on how the popular search engine does the work for them. In late 2016, Google RankBrain was unleashed, paving the way for the search engine to learn how people use the facility.

    The latest Hummingbird extension boasts of an algorithmic machine learning technology with the end goal of improving the search experience for users. According to Forbes, RankBrain enabled Google to learn how people use phrases in their queries and, with the information, update the search engine’s algorithm accordingly. Of course, this means that content providers must relearn things if necessary and adapt to the changing search landscape. The previous update left many webmasters grumbling when they found out that their articles hardly make it to the coveted “Top Stories” section anymore.

    The rising popularity of digital assistants, such as Siri and Cortana, is also changing the way people make searches online. This means that with the increasing use of these intelligent digital assistants, advanced forms of conversational queries will increase, opening up another segment that companies could target.

    AMP Gets Amped

    While desktop computing won’t exactly disappear, search engine use is projected to see the most growth in the mobile segment. The Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP) project protocol anticipates this trend and is in place to make content optimized for mobile browsing.

    Pages running on AMP get loaded on mobiles devices four times faster than regular ones. In fact, Google favors AMP content. Since last February, Google has been marking AMP sites with a lightning bolt icon and featuring them more prominently in search results.

    Going AMP would also benefit users in the long run. Pages load faster because it uses 8 times less data compared to a regular page. And of course, everyone knows that loading speed is a big factor in viewer retention.

    Branding Goes Personal

    Some industry watchers predict that personal branding is the way to go to be successful with your online campaign. Of course, that is not saying that you should do away with the corporate brand, but there are advantages when people within an organization tell their own stories. Think of personal branding as a way to complement a company’s SEO efforts and how it reaches out to its online customers.

    Nowadays, corporations have to deal with being perceived by consumers as manipulative and greedy. Therefore, engaging consumers on a personal level is seen as the solution to diffuse this consumer wariness. By providing a personal identity that corporations naturally lack, personal branding makes it easier for consumers to trust the brand.

    In addition, posting on a personal level amplifies the reach of a company. For instance, if a CEO of a company has three personal accounts on social media for this purpose, he is multiplying his corporate exposure as all of these accounts can grow their own follower base independently. In addition, these separate accounts can be used to target different segments of the market, which could result in a more customized posting that could potentially increase engagement.

    UEO Meets SEO

    Another important trend to watch out for is the rising importance of UEO in SEO. In fact, there are indications that user experience optimization (UEO) is going to become more important in SEO rankings.

    Google is now giving hints that it may give more weight to user experience in its search result. One such hint is that the search engine giant seems to favor pages that load quickly with its preference for AMP content.

    If the trend continues, the next step would be for Google to favor pages that offer a more enjoyable user experience. One metric that could come into play is the length of time a visitor stays on a page– staying a long time usually means that the visitor enjoys the content. While user experience has been an important metric in ranking pages for some time now, it looks like it’s going to become even more important in future versions of the search algorithm. The bottom line is that webmasters should post quality content in well-designed sites that most people will enjoy.

    Content Gets Denser

    Speaking of content, there is another trend that experts are predicting– the rise of denser content. According to Smart Insights, there was a time when tons of brief but “fluffy” content-wise posts sufficed, which was eventually replaced by lengthy, seemingly complicated content to rank in SEO. However, those two extremes are now being replaced by what is referred to as Dense Content.

    Simply put, Dense Content is when one offers tons of information using the smallest space possible. Of course, this presents an entirely new challenge which would definitely involve some spark of creativity and the flair for creating stunning visuals. But of course, the challenge is what makes SEO very interesting.

    [Featured Image by Pixabay]