Home Blog Page 115

Can Routers Be Infected by Viruses or Malware?

Daniel Odoh
-
0
Can Routers Be Infected by Viruses or Malware?

These are digital days when everything is done with the use of the internet. We have seen in our houses that there remains a device in one room that blinks with several lights on. This is the router. 

Your router is the device that lets you connect your device to the internet. It is an intermediary between your device and the internet service provider. As such, it may appear that it is just a device, and many people don’t have the idea that it may be affected by a virus. But the hard truth is that routers are also vulnerable devices. We generally set up a password for our connection and think routers are just for connecting through this password. 

When routers are affected by malware or virus, the impact can be huge. This is the one device that keeps us running by letting us connect to the server. All our personal and professional communication gets disturbed when there is an attack. We should be aware of precautions to be taken in this regard. Attention should be paid to the maintenance of the router too. 

A router

The scope of the virus that affects a router differs. It can steal personal information like logins and passwords; it can penetrate through the website you browse; and it can totally collapse everything you do over the internet. If your router has an OS, then the chance of spreading the virus remains dominant. The most popular router malware is VPNFilter. 

This affected networks across 50 countries is quite astonishing. Routers can be obtained in the market over various price ranges. Experts feel that when you buy some cheap one, it may not have the security features since the firmware updates are possible only with the high-end versions. 

They also do not deny the possibility of the high-end versions being attacked. These days smart home systems are implemented, meaning your entire house is connected to the router. For example, your television, phone, your electrical appliances, and maybe even your electric meter. So when your router gets affected, all other devices are also affected. 

How to identify a router virus? 

  • There may be unknown programs on your device. These may even be unnoticeable on the program check of your device. Without your knowing, there may be uninvited visitors to your device, and they can plant any program. These hackers try to install some software that can steal your password information. As you work over the internet, your details get transmitted to these hackers, who then manage to swipe your entire money. 
  • Your device may begin to operate slowly, and you may not know that it is because of the hacking. The lag that you notice in your system may be the initial sign of hacking. The malware is positioned on your router, and it eats up the computing resources, forcing your system to work very slowly. Sometimes it may be taken for a software update or maybe lack of space. But it is not always so. The reason has to be explored so that you can identify the virus attack earlier. 
  • Whenever you try to visit a website, you are taken to another site that you did not choose. This is the work of the affected router. There may be several compromised links in the site that hackers want you to access by an unintentional click. So, without your knowledge, you invite a lot of hackers to your device and allow the stealing of personal information. 
  • The hacking of your router can also lead to a DNS server change. If you notice that it has been changed, then the reason could be none other than a router virus. 
  • When you are unable to access certain services, you can know that there is some issue. Changing your passwords without your notice may be the work of hackers, leading to your inability to access some services. When you cannot log in in spite of the correct information, you should let experts check your device for a virus attack. 
  • Sometimes when you use the system, certain messages pop up. Certain boxes start to appear when you browse through a site. These force you to click on them when you try to click on certain other links. This is the action of the virus attack on your system, and to make it further worse, it makes you click on the boxes. Messages start to appear that mention that you can escape from virus attacks or clean up your system if you click on the box. 

Vulnerability of routers

It is seen that routers that allow remote access are more vulnerable. The control of your router should only be given to those who are physically near it. Also, it should be password protected. Care should also be taken to change the passwords frequently.

Choose a password that has good strength and that which cannot be easily deciphered. You could also restrict the usage of wired connections so that the chances of being affected are reduced. When access is allowed from a remote, anyone can log in to the system. This can allow anonymous people to get all the details from your router. 

Updates for your router: Firmware updates for your router are very important. We have seen above that cheap routers available on the market do not allow updates to happen. Some routers automatically install the updates as they are configured to do so, while some others may require manual intervention. This is a very important step to protect your router, so if you own a router that needs updates manually, you should not forget to do it. 

A connected Router
Photo by Thomas Jensen on Unsplash

Scanning for viruses: You need a good antivirus to scan your network. This must be good enough to scan your router and check for the presence of viruses or malware. A full system scan and a clean-up post can help you identify and remove the virus that may have crept in. 

When these scans do not work, you have the manual intervention option, that is, to reset the router to the factory settings. Once this is done, you get the router fresh, as you had purchased it only now. There is a button on every router for this. By just pressing the button, you can get rid of the virus attack. Though your router needs to be set up again afresh, this seems to be the last resort. 

Some expert tips summed up: 

  • Password changes are to be done frequently so that your router is not prone to attack by anonymous users of the internet. 
  • Firmware updates so that your router is kept up to date and protected against malicious attacks. 
  • Not allowing remote access is another way to keep yourself safe. 
  • Checking the DNS settings so that the internet service provider handles everything. The DNS settings should be preferably dynamic. 
  • Scan the router periodically to identify any attacks. 

The above is comprehensive information on the possibility of a virus attack on your router. You should take the necessary care so that the virus does not pose a big threat to your connected devices. Also, make sure you seek professional assistance in these aspects so that you can maintain the health of your router and thereby the devices connected to it. 

Internal and External Network Penetration Testing

Samuel Jim
-
0
Internal and External Network Penetration Testing

Efficient network penetration testing ensures that the organization’s network infrastructure is both secure and resilient to withstand all kinds of attack methods while continuing with daily operations. The procedure comes in two forms – internal network penetration testing and external network penetration testing. 

An extensive testing procedure will help in identifying and exploiting vulnerabilities so as to understand the business impact while reducing unwanted exposure across both cloud and on-premise environments. 

External Network Penetration Testing

The design of this approach to network pentesting ensures that the perimeter security controls of the network are adequately secured for the prevention and detection of attacks. The testing procedure evaluates the potential vulnerabilities in all public-facing assets such as web, mail, and FTP servers. In this scenario, ethical hackers attempt to access the network by exploiting the security loopholes discovered on the external assets. Attempts will also be made to access sensitive data including customer information and/or business secrets through hidden vulnerabilities in emails, file-sharing systems, or websites. 

The procedure begins with the stage of gathering information about the network and the organization including the assets within the scope, ports, and other potential vulnerabilities. This information will be utilized to design ideal attack methods for uncovering more security loopholes such as password attacks, DoS attacks, etc. After the perimeter is successfully breached, the external penetration testing phase of the procedure is over and the testing team submits the intermediate pentest report on the vulnerabilities that made this happen. 

External pen testing methods involve:

  • IDS/IPS testing – Intrusion detection/prevention systems should be set in place in every network for the monitoring and analysis of network traffic and cyber packers for potential malware. 
  • Manual pentesting for known vulnerabilities – There are some commonly known vulnerabilities within the network such as the potential for brute and DoS attacks, cryptographic issues, etc. Ethical hackers should look into this possibility since a majority of attacks (60%) happen through the exploitation of vulnerabilities for which patches were available.
  • Data leakages – Pentesters should look for vulnerable points from where sensitive data could fall into the hands of hackers
  • Segmentation testing – Network segmentation is a crucial part of preventing attacks from pivoting from one point to the other
  • Compliance-based testing – testing procedures will be designed in accordance with different compliance standards such as PCI-DSS, HIPAA, etc according to the industry requirements
  • Open-Source Intelligence (OSINT) reconnaissance – The further one spreads the scope for gathering information, including social media platforms and websites, the more data you can collect
  • Social engineering – pentesting approaches should also include the possibilities for phishing and vishing tests since at least 80% of breaches gain access through social engineering
  • Foot-printing – these methods gather information from the system in order to design the right attack methods that will utilize its vulnerabilities and test its weak points
  • Screening systems, ports, and services for vulnerabilities – These are left to automated pen testing tools which will explore the length and breadth of your network for potential backdoors for entry

Internal Network Penetration Testing

This attack is formulated from the hacker’s perspective on the possible course of action once they gain internal access to the network including how far they’ll be able to go. It’s most similar to insider attacks through accidental or deliberate actions of employees and the consequent compromising of important company assets. Here, the testing team will continue to exploit the vulnerable point of entry (e.g. network devices or open ports) for continuing to probe for more vulnerabilities and/or methods to stay undetected within the network. This is the more commonly used approach since it’s a stable testing method than using a variety of other automated testing tools through the exploited external asset.

Under this approach, reconnaissance and specially designed attack methods begin from the external asset exploited. For example, an insecure domain control could allow the hacker to gain complete control over the network. Most attack methods are refined to work with less important systems, gain information from there, and proceed with the privilege escalation to more important aspects of the network. One of the more common approaches taken by hackers when internal access is gained is to lurk around and gather private data without being detected. If proper internal auditing, penetration testing, and patching procedures aren’t conducted on a regular basis, hackers can stay undetected within the system for days, weeks, even months. 

The test usually reaches its end once the admin access is achieved or access to sensitive information is gained. 

Internal pen testing methods include:

  • Employees
  • Computer systems, mobile devices, cameras, etc
  • WiFi networks and firewalls
  • HVAC
  • Unwanted access privileges
  • Test possibilities for privilege escalation, malware spreading, information leaks, etc.
  • Physical access

Both kinds of network penetration testing procedures are equally important to understand the vulnerabilities present in the firm’s network and associated components. For the right pentesting approach, ensure that you’re entrusting services to the best third-party service provider with the right skills and quality of service. 

AWS Penetration Testing: Tools and Checklist

Samuel Jim
-
0
AWS Penetration Testing: Tools and Checklist

AWS penetration testing is a necessity to protect your cloud infrastructure. The benefits vastly outweigh the cost in the long run. Penetration testing your AWS will help ensure that your data is secure and you also get a comprehensive understanding of the risks associated with using AWS. This blog post will break down what you’re allowed to pentest in AWS, some tools that you can use, and a checklist to get started.

Why Should You Perform Penetration Tests on AWS?

AWS is a massive cloud infrastructure provider and assists businesses of all sizes worldwide. However, the power of the cloud also brings along a lot of risks. AWS customers are responsible for the security and privacy of their own data. Penetration testing your AWS environment is one way to ensure that your data is safe and secure.

How is Penetration Testing on AWS Different from Conventional Penetration Testing?

The approach to online penetration testing traditional security architecture and the AWS cloud infrastructure varies significantly. Since the cloud infrastructure is still owned by, traditional ethical hacking tactics would result in a violation of the AWS Acceptable Use Policy. Hence, while penetration testing your AWS cloud infrastructure, focus on the user-owned assets.

What Can You Penetration Test in AWS?

The scope of your penetration test will be largely dependent on the services that you are using in AWS as well as what is allowed by the customer agreement. Not all services are eligible for testing.

Below is a list of services that can be assessed for vulnerabilities:

Permitted Services:

  • Amazon CloudFront
  • Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) instances
  • Amazon Aurora
  • Amazon API Gateways
  • Amazon Lightsail resources
  • Amazon Elastic Beanstalk environments
  • AWS Lambda and Lambda Edge functions
  • Amazon RDS

Before you begin testing, make sure you have gone over the customer agreement, Amazon Web Services Acceptable Use Policy, and only perform those penetration tests that are allowed based on the services you use.

Prohibited Activities:

The following activities are generally not permitted:

  • Accessing or modifying data that does not belong to you
  • DNS zone walking
  • Port flooding
  • Request flooding such as login requests and API requests
  • Attacking or penetrating the infrastructure of another AWS customer or a third party
  • Protocol flooding
  • Attempting to circumvent security measures or access data that does not belong to you
  • Introducing malware into AWS
  • Perform Denial of Service attacks (DoS) or Simulate one
  • Perform Distributed Denial of Service attacks (DDoS) or Simulate one
  • Use of automated tools, scripts, or other methods that could potentially automate prohibited activities in the testing process

Tools for Penetration Testing AWS

There are many different tools that can be used for penetration testing in AWS.

  • Astra Security Scan – Astra is a web application security scanner that can be used to identify vulnerabilities in your AWS environment. It scans for over 3000 known vulnerabilities and goes on to recommend solutions to fix them.
  • AWS Security Monkey – This tool is used for AWS security audit for changes and security issues. It can be used to detect unauthorised activity, vulnerabilities, and compliance issues.
  • Pacu – Pacu is a tool that helps with the assessment of security controls in AWS. It can be used to identify misconfigurations and vulnerabilities.
  • AWS PWN – AWS PWN is a tool that can be used to pentest Amazon EC-series instances. It includes exploits for vulnerabilities in web applications, operating systems, and databases.
  • Prowler – Prowler is a tool that can be used to assess the security of AWS environments. It includes features such as reconnaissance, scanning, and exploitation.
  • CloudMapper – CloudMapper is a tool that can be used to map out your AWS environment. It uses the configuration items found in CloudTrail logs and correlates them to the AWS infrastructure. This allows you to see how your resources are interconnected and identify potential security risks.

AWS Penetration Testing Checklist

The following is a checklist of things to consider when performing penetration tests in AWS:

  1. Begin by going over the customer agreement and determine which penetration tests are permitted and prohibited.
  2. Identify the AWS services you’re using and determine what kind of pen tests can be performed on them.
  3. Determine the tools you will need for your testing.
  4. Perform reconnaissance of your environment to discover which devices and services are exposed in the cloud.
  5. Scan for vulnerabilities using automated tools such as Astra, AWS Security Monkey, and CloudMapper.
  6. Use manual testing techniques to exploit vulnerabilities, misconfigurations, and other security issues discovered in the previous step.
  7. Conduct a penetration test using automated tools such as AWS PWN and CloudSploit.
  8. Test your environment again after making changes to ensure the security fixes are effective.
  9. Monitor your environment for new or changed vulnerabilities with Security Monkey and other tools.
  10. Repeat as needed.

Once you are done with your assessment, make sure to document everything found including issues identified as well as potential solutions – this will help out during remediation efforts later on. Consider providing a summary of findings to management so they are aware of the security posture of their environments and where improvement is needed.

Conclusion

Penetration tests are a great way to identify vulnerabilities in your AWS environment. Just as new tools and techniques are being developed for securing cloud services, hackers are also developing new ways to exploit them. It is therefore important that you take the necessary precautions and perform penetration tests on your AWS infrastructure on a regular basis.

The tools and checklist mentioned in this article can serve as a good start but is by no means an exhaustive list. These are just a few among the many that can be used for penetration testing AWS. Be sure to research what’s available and use the right tool for the job. Additionally,  always follow the customer agreement and only perform tests that are permitted by Amazon.

Is Robot Fiction Finally Becoming a Reality?

Daniel Odoh
-
1
Is Robot Fiction Finally Becoming a Reality?

Science fiction writers have used robotic technology as a theme for decades and there have been some truly exceptional ideas about how the future could look. Isaac Asimov was one of the first and most influential authors, and his I, Robot collection progressed ideas about how robots could one day be programmed with ethics.

Now, science seems to be catching up with fiction as robots and artificial intelligence are creeping into our everyday lives. Asimov’s vision has a strong chance of becoming a reality in the not-so-distant future.

Scientists Develop Robot that Flies Like Iron Man

Marvel’s Iron Man is certainly one of the more believable superheroes, as all his abilities are grounded in technology. Readers enjoy the character because they like to think it could be possible for real-world inventors to replicate some ideas from the comics. Now, that seems to be coming to realization. Researchers at the Italian Institute of Technology recently came up with iRonCub, a humanoid robot that can fly.

This isn’t the first time that an idea born in fiction has come to life. One example that is becoming more widespread around the world is the idea of a crime-fighting robot, first introduced in Paul Verhoeven’s RoboCop in 1987. PAL Robotics came up with the REEM, which can be found in many of Dubai’s tourist hotspots. It has a touchscreen interface people can use to report crimes.

Robots Have been Prevalent in Entertainment for Some Time

Entertainment was one of the first industries to embrace robotics and AI, and this technology is becoming more prevalent within it every year. Gaming, in particular, has seen some incredible advancements. Ever since Deep Blue beat Garry Kasparov in 1997, technology within gaming has been improving. For example, NPCs in open-world games are now more complex than ever, with inhabitants of rich landscapes notably undertaking full daily routines if you stop to observe them.

Robots are often the central theme in gaming as well. Robots and cyborgs appear frequently in a variety of genres and usually serve as an avatar for the player because their inherent design allows players to level up and upgrade their abilities. Beyond that, there’s no denying that basing your game on science fiction gives you the room to explore a variety of different environments and ideas. When you look at robot and mech games, they gravitate towards space and futuristic elements, setting you up to experience things that are alien to us now. You can see this with titles such as Assault Suits Valken, otherwise known as Cybernator. Because of the conflicts on Earth, some of humanity has moved to space and is dependent on robots and mechs to survive. Is this a hugely unique idea? Not exactly, but it’s a novel concept that lets creators be more expressive compared to saving the princess from another castle.

The idea being this allows the player to reach their potential. Many modern robot and mech games are popular for the amount of skill required, and the fact that players need to employ logic and tactics to win, although doesn’t mean robot games can’t tell a good story as some writers are keen to take advantage of these environments. They also make excellent multiplayer titles, as different robots try to outdo each other with their diverse attributes.

Will This Mean Less Robot Themed Fiction in the Future?

With technology about to catch up to many of the ideas first posited in science fiction, it begs the question of whether writers will continue to come up with stories about this topic. The most likely scenario is that writers will now align their ideas with the technology that looks most likely to come to fruition and create novels based on future possibilities with this tech.

It is exciting to think that robots are catching up with notions of science fiction stories over the years, but it is also a little scary. Some believe AI will become superior to humans in the future and will eventually subjugate us all. But that’s a worry for another day. For now, enjoy watching the iRonCub take flight.

7 Benefits of Hiring Node.js Developers – A Complete Guide

Radhika
-
0
7 Benefits of Hiring Node.js Developers – A Complete Guide

Have you ever considered the perks if you hire Node.js developers? In the current arena, Node.js developers have made a transformation in the web world by building scalable and flexible web apps.

One of the most popular mark-up languages among developers is Node.js. These programmers are in charge of creating server-side web applications and working on the back end. Many well-known and prestigious firms, such as Yahoo and PayPal, employ Node.js. Node.js is an open-source framework that allows you to run JavaScript code outside of your browser.

When it comes to constructing an enterprise-level robust data-intensive online application, Node.js — an open-source cross-platform runtime environment – is undoubtedly winning the hearts of not just Node.js engineers but also business owners. It enables the infrastructure to build and run an application. It cuts down on coding time.

If you hire a Node.js developer, they ensure that the business web app will take an effective and professional shape, as skilled developers understand how to make the best use of Node.js, which is light, customizable, and cross-platform, and also uses an event-driven I/O model, allowing Node.js to be productive and aiding in the development of scalable server-side or network web applications.

READ: 5 In-Demand Cloud Certifications Of 2022

Let’s go over the top benefits of Node.js developers to create your next web app:

  1. Customized solution

The developer will be well-versed and experienced enough to handle all of the problems once you’ve given him or her your requirements, and the web application will be customized exactly how you want it. It’s a huge benefit for you and your company because features are always being added, and they can be tweaked and updated in accordance with changing trends and people’s interests.

Competent developers keep up with the latest technology and possible tools, so choosing them to fulfill your needs can present your company with a plethora of advantages. With Turing, you can hire dedicated Node.js programmers that use the top Node.js frameworks listed below to build a solid foundation for your web application.

  • Socket.io

Using Socket.io, the talented Node.js Developers can create world-class real-time applications and immediate multi-user chatting web applications. Socket.io is one of the top Node.js web frameworks that operate as a server-side library and as a client-side library in the browser. Some of its important characteristics are asynchronous input/output (I/O) processing, binary streaming, and instant messaging.

  • Express.js

The programmers use Express.js, one of the most effective Node frameworks, to host web and mobile applications and construct powerful APIs. Its primary features include:

  • Engines that generate templates.
  • Multiple routing has been simplified.
  • Integration of databases.

Hire a professional Node.js programmer with Turing who can make maximum use of Express.js when constructing MEAN Stack platform to own a top-notch web application for your business and drive more potential clients.

  • Meteor.js

Meteor.js is the MVC framework for Node.js, and skilled backend developers can use it to create fantastic websites, web, and mobile applications to help you fulfill your business needs and increase sales. Proficient programmers use the meteor.js framework to develop client and server-side applications.

  1. Perfect for microservices

You can process your application while utilizing it with Node.js developers. A Node.js developer can also assist you with scaling only the areas of your application that are necessary. In addition, you can get rid of the cumbersome modules. The ability to split work makes it easier to run microservices in a Node.js application.

  1. Scalable and efficient

Node.js developers allow programmers to scale an app in both horizontal and vertical scales, enhancing performance and preventing the app from crashing. Node.js is a single-threaded JavaScript runtime that runs quickly and flawlessly. The Node.js developer contributes to the data optimization and storage reduction of the application by making it 20 times faster. Node.js is continually evolving at a breakneck speed. It is always releasing new versions and improving its functionality and code standards.

  1. Simple to hire

It’s as simple as that. It is quite easy to recruit and engage Node.js professionals at a very affordable fee in order to meet the expectations and criteria. Node.js developers aid in the development of your project, and because the hiring cost with turing is reasonable, you gain as well.

You can engage professional Node.js engineers full-time or part-time with Turing as per your comfort and speed. Apart from maintaining the web application development process, this will allow you to focus on the key elements of your organization. You’ll also get to create a stunning application and receive high-quality services at a low cost.

  1. Post-development support

The development is supplied once it has been completed and tested. If you require assistance with any bug corrections, changes that need to be updated, or any other issues, the developers can assist you to a considerable extent in meeting your needs. It is possible to seek post-development assistance.

There is bug fixing support, file backup, and garbage clearance, so you’ll be well-served with Turing. Our professional developers occasionally work on-site at the request of our clients.

  1. Select your team

Turing allows you to engage skilled Node.js developers to help you tackle mission-critical issues. They meet shifting business realities while delivering projects on time. You can put together an ideal team of developers to meet your project’s needs.

You can also hire a specialized team to work on your project, depending on the requirements. We assist you in hiring professional developers and the ideal team.

  1. Industry-best professionals

Hiring Node.js developers with Turing are regarded as some of the brightest and best in the industry for building and thriving in the digital transformation path.

One-stop shop for all your specific needs

Hiring a Node.js developer is critical if you want to take your company to greater heights and stand out from the crowd. This will provide you with numerous benefits, and you will be able to efficiently lead your organization forward. With Turing, you can hire Node.js developers who will help you transition to the next stage of Node.js development service and give you access to the most cutting-edge features of the era’s most popular technology.

How does work Remapping and its History

Daniel Odoh
-
0
How does work Remapping and its History

Your ECU is also known as the Electronic Control Unit’s chip is able to store maps of programs that instruct the injectors on what amount of fuel to provide to your engine, and on the petrol engine, when to start the spark plugs. It also stores numerous other factors such as fault codes, sensors’ inputs, and outputs as well as virtually every other element that affects the operation of an engine. 

When you use the default factory settings, your ECU is programmed to work with the lowest grade of fuel that can be used across the most countries possible and by Remapping the ECU to maximize performance using high-quality fuels, like those that are used by the UK in the UK and European countries. ECU FLASH can help your car run better while reducing fuel consumption and generating more power due to the increased efficiency of combustion.

Remapping History

Since its inception in 2004, ECU FLASH has gained a reputation for being one of the leading UK economic and performance tuning experts in partnership with other tuning firms from around the world.

This natural extension into the efficiency and performance tuning market was developed over a period of years of research and testing, giving you the security you need in the process of altering your vehicle. The performance tuning section of ECU Flash promises to enhance your current vehicle, and add the extra strength and precision, balance, efficiency, or simply a feel to your vehicle that you’ve lacked.

We have a team of experts of software developers within our company as well as connections around the globe with other programmers and tuners who are part of our team and modify ECU for all kinds of automobiles, from trucks and tractor models to road cars with high-performance like Porsche 991 Turbo. Porsche 991 Turbo. Our laptop is connected to your vehicle and download the latest program from your ECU. We do not alter the current ECU software, which will result in a better fit rather than replacing your software with an off-the-shelf version which is why you will get better performance and economic benefits.

We will have our ECU software engineers will examine your software to identify areas that can be improved for efficiency and performance. It’s up to personal preference. You might want to increase the rev limit, disable any speed limit, or even iron out flat areas. If you’re not certain what you’re looking to accomplish then, our performance tune will meet your requirements.

If you find that the initial map isn’t what you want We’ll tweak it to make sure that the program is what you’re looking for. We’ve never, and will ever compromise how we map ECU. We provide a custom service that lets you achieve exactly what you need. You’ll be able to rest assured that the mapping of your ECU will not cause the engine to be damaged We still create intolerances to make sure that your vehicle is safe and secure, all day!

We backup every ECU software to our archive before tuning is completed and at any time you can revert the program in the event that you want to restore it to the previous version.

Upgrade ECU

The engine’s program is stored in memory in one of the ECU chips. The program can be read by a computer equipped with special hardware. In most instances, we are able to read or write the data through the car’s OBD (On-Board Diagnostic Port) which means there’s no requirement to remove the ECU.
Torque is the primary item to be improved, and improvements generally range in the range of 35% for regular turbo cars. The engine is scanned through the OBD socket using diagnostic equipment that optimizes all maps inside the car.

Remapping Or Tuning Box

Tuning boxes are gadgets that you add to your car with the intention of stealing transmissions coming from your ECU chip and relaying them to the sensors inside your fueling system and engine. 

Certain tuning boxes operate by tricking your vehicle’s ECU by using false information to make the chip believe that the engine is performing something different, which makes the ECU increase the amount of fuel. Other tuning devices work by altering data after it leaves the ECU chip so that your engine and your fuel system act differently due to receiving modified instructions. No matter which type of tuning box you choose to use, the results will be similar, each work by altering how much fuel is supplied for the engines. 

Furthermore, because it is playing with an ECU and/or the engine it is constantly in conflict between the tuning device and the chip in your car – where the ECU chip is trying to rectify the inaccurate information. This is particularly true for the most recent Euro IV engines with very strict emission control. This results in uneven performance, and often there is no improvement in performance in any way.

How Much Does It Cost to Hire an App Developer and Forecasts

Samuel Jim
-
0
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an App Developer and Forecasts

You’ve got a great idea for an app – congratulations! Now come the hard questions: Where do I start? How much does it cost to hire an app developer? How much do I need to pay for the whole project?

We’ll look at all the associated costs of an app project in 2024, including the hire app developer cost, your backup costs, your team costs, and promotional costs.  

How much does it cost to hire an app developer?

Your app developers are your biggest (and most important cost). Before we can dig into the cost of hiring app developer teams, we have to consider where you will find your developer. If you hire a US-based developer, the mobile app development cost per hour will probably be around $90-$130 per hour, depending on their seniority. The mobile app development hourly rate for someone in the UK is closer to $75-$100 per hour. If you use a recruitment agency to hire these developers, you should also be prepared to pay an additional 20-30% of their annual salary in commission for every successful hire. 

The app developer cost per hour drops dramatically if you hire your team offshore. In China and India, you can hire a senior developer for $18-$40 (although not many developers speak English). Countries like Ukraine and Poland, where most of the IT community speaks English, have rates of between $25-50 per hour. These communities have some of the most talented developers in the world at a fraction of the price. 

If you want to keep the cost of your project down, you should start with your mobile app development hourly rate. Offshoring to a different country can cut the cost of your entire project by 75%. 

How much does it cost to build an app in 2024?

How much will it cost to build your app from start to finish? Again, the answer to this question is:  it depends. Your app costs will fluctuate based on the app functionality and purpose, the platforms it will support (e.g., Android or iOS or both), the devices it will support, whether or not it will be integrated with third-party apps or platforms. 

The app itself will also impact the cost and number of design and developer hours you’ll need. Complex visual elements, smartphone features like GPS, NFC, AR technology, or motion co-processors will impact your overall cost as well. 

You should also factor in your known and unknown costs. Bug fixes and maintenance, as well as required technical support, will drive up your costs long after you’ve built the app. 

A really simple app with minimal features can cost about $40,000. An app that is more complex but not highly complex will cost between $60,000 and $120,000, while really complex apps will cost well over $120,000 to build.

Don’t forget to factor in testing your app and the cost of contracting and HR in your calculations, as well as the cost of promoting your app. 

How much does it cost to promote an app in 2024?

Whenever you develop an app, you are obviously hoping to make some money from it. You don’t want to spend more money promoting your app than you’re making from it. That is why most businesses keep an eye on their average Cost per Install or CPI. Your cost per install is simply the amount of money you’ve spent on your ads in a specific period of time, divided by the amount of app installs you’ve generated. 

If you’ve spent $400 on your ads and generated 200 new installs, your CPI is $2. Some companies hire celebrities to promote their apps which will obviously require a massive spend, but most app marketing budgets are between $1000 – $5000. 

READ: 5 Best Programming Software 

The average global CPI benchmark across all platforms and devices is $2.24 dollars, so try to keep in line with the average. It doesn’t matter how much you spend, as long as the ratio between your ad spend and your installs remain healthy. 

Conclusion

In this article, we’ve answered three important questions: how much does it cost to hire an app developer, how much does it cost to build an app, and how much does it cost to promote an app in 2024. Now that you know, you can start budgeting! 

How to Increase Image Resolution in a Cost-Effective Way?

Ifeanyi Okondu
-
0
How to Increase Image Resolution in a Cost-Effective Way?

What is image resolution

Image resolution is a description of the detail that the image holds. Image resolution is described using pixel per inch (PPI), which means the number of pixels displayed per inch of a particular image. Higher resolutions imply more PPI, resulting in higher pixel information and giving you a crisp and high-quality image.

READ: Restore and Bring New Life to Old B&W Photos with Image Colorizer

On the other hand, images with lower resolutions have fewer pixels, and in case those pixels are large – mostly when the image is stretched, the image tends to become blurred.

What is image resolution
What is image resolution?

High resolution vs. low resolution

Higher resolution gives a sharper, crisp, clear, and high-quality image, whereas, for low resolution, the image or picture you get is blurred and stretchy.

When high-resolution images are used for web graphics, their load time is high, unlike low-resolution images that look fabulous on computer screens. A high-resolution image has more pixels per inch than a low-resolution image with fewer pixels per inch.

3 most cost-effective ways to increase the image resolution

Waifu2x

Waifu2x is an online resizing platform that enables you to scale your photographs or images easily and quickly. You only need to upload your photo to the platform, and the rest is taken care of by the platform.

Waifu2x
Waifu2x

How to increase image resolution by waifu2x

1. Head to the Waifu2X official site by clicking https://waifu2x.io/.

2. Upload the image you wish to resize by clicking on the “Select Image” button.

3. Leave the default settings of scale and noise reduction; you can change if need be.

4. Click on “Convert Now” and wait for seconds.

5. Press the “Preview” button to preview the results. 

6. Select the saving formats and click on the “Download” button to save the upscaled image on your computer.

Key features of waifu2x

  • Easy to use: by using Waifu2x, you don’t need to learn professional photo editing skills.
  • Enlarge the photo and reduce the noise at the same time.
  • Give you the freedom to scale the image up to 10X.
  • Anime and manga style.
  • Both PNG & JPEG are available for image output.

Imgupscaler

Using Artificial Intelligence to upscale the image resolution, this platform automatically upscale image without losing quality. It enlarges and enhances the look of the image. It is easy to maneuver and use, even if you’re using it for the first time. It gives you the ability to enlarge your photo up to 400% in a few clicks. 

2

How to increase image resolution by imgupscaler

  1. Open your browser and go ahead the imgupscaler.com. 
  2. Choose the image/picture you’d like to upscale or enhance.
  3. Click the “Drop or Drag” button to upload the picture to this web-based program.
  4. Click the “Start” button to enable the tool to upscale photos by 400% automatically.
  5. Wait for the AI image upscaled to do its thing.
  6. Save the enlarged photo by hovering the mouse on the “Download” button.
  7. Now, you have a noise-free and better-looking image; it is that easy.

Key features of imgupscaler

  • Lightning-fast page speed: you can open the site in 2-3 seconds.
  • No coding or skills are needed: the using process is easy and simple.
  • Integrated photo upscaling and enhancing technology.
  • Brief layout and clear navigation: friendly for all users.
  • Support upscaling max 10 images for a free account per week.
  • Improve efficiency by upscaling many pictures at one time.

Icons8 smart upscaler

Icons8 is one of the best upscale tools that most people like. It offers reliable and fascinating outcomes with accurate details and color. Better still, the processing time of this tool is unmatched. The most important thing to note about this unit is that you can upscale up to 4X of its initial resolution.

Upscaler
Upscaler

How to increase image resolution by icons8 smart upscaler

  1. Visit the right page of Icons8 Smart Upscaler by clicking https://icons8.com/upscaler.
  2. When you’re on their website, you can choose to drag and drop the picture or upload it from your computer.
  3. After you’ve uploaded your work, wait 10 seconds to let the system do the work.
  4. Once the process is done, you’ll be able to see the result in the lower field.
  5. You can save the image result on your computer by simply downloading it.

Key features of icons8 smart upscaler

  • Free to download. No need to register an account before you download the picture.
  • Upscale pictures/Images up to 4x. 
  • The quality is not lost. The tool keeps all details of the original photo.

Other Image Upscaling FAQs

  1. Why Upscale a Small Image?

Upscaling a small image involves adding more pixels to a small image to improve its resolution. This process implies that there will be only the same as many pixels per inch. If you alter the image resolution, the physical size is also changed. Important to note that pixel sizing controls the data amount, and physical size and resolution are only usable for printing. Also, upscaling improves the quality of the image, including its clarity, crispiness, sharpness to the physical eye. In other words, upscaling stretches the image to suit the resolution you display. For instance, a 720p is being upscaled to fit a screen of 1080p.

  1. Which Software is best to Upscale Anime to 4k?

In this article, three online software have been introduced for upscaling a photo and increasing the image resolution. All of them have their features. However, when it comes to upscaling an anime or cartoon photo, no application is better than imgupscaler.

This platform uses AI to upscale anime images and doesn’t introduce any noise to the image. Lossless image enlargement is made possible with advanced algorithms, which learned how to identify and preserve details of your image. If you are a cartoon or anime lover, you will get the most beautiful wallpapers by using imgupscaler.

  1. Is Online Image Upscaler free to Use?

Well, Image Upscaler allows you to scale up to some images for free. But if you need to upscale additional images, you’ll need to pay per image or select different pricing plans that allow you to unlock more powerful functions or have access to ultimate features.

Conclusion

As we know, Image is an important visual work that helps readers to know what we want to express. No one can ignore the impact of a stunning picture on social media, magazines, or movies. However, sometimes we can’t get the most satisfying images for printing or displaying. Surely, we can hire a professional editor to fix the small or blurry photos, or open photoshop to start exploring how to increase image resolution. But we need to pay more money and spend a lot of time doing so. 

Is there a cost-effective way to upscale photos without losing quality? Now we have found a good solution – using online image upscalers. In the above content, we have introduced three popular photo enlargers. All of them are capable of upscaling most types of images in a short time. The converting speed and output quality impress us. If you have no idea how to increase image resolution in an easier and faster way, get the inspiration from this article.

What is the Best Caricature Maker Online for Windows and Mac?

Ifeanyi Okondu
-
0
What is the Best Caricature Maker Online for Windows and Mac?

These days, creating caricatures does not take more than weeks to finish. With the help of today’s technological advancements, many artists can quickly turn a good photo into caricature in a matter of hours. This technology means that you can promptly commission an artist to create a stunning caricature for your loved ones or yourself without having to worry about waiting for weeks.

This article will discuss everything you must know about Caricaturer.io, one of the best caricature makers online for Windows and Mac users.

What is Caricaturer

What is Caricaturer.io?

Caricaturer.io is a caricature maker online. It allows people to produce accurately depicted and overall stunning caricatures based on the photos you submitted. Based on the deep learning and AI technology, this site can scan and analyze the facial features automatically. With this innovation, it only takes a few minutes to create a caricature with 64 styles. 

Functions and Key Features

It allows you to create an caricature with exaggerated and distorted effects via the AI technology. All you need to do is to upload the photo on the website. Then the AI would scan the facial features of your image. It usually lasts for three to five minutes, and when it is finished, you can have an HD quality caricature produced by the AI in Caricaturer.io within minutes. 

With the HD picture, you can have it printed into something bigger, put it on a frame, then gift it to your loved ones or display it at home. Another thing is that you can download the HD picture if you have an account with them. Registration is easy, and you just offer a valid email and set up the password. 

Highlights Using the AI Technology

Unlike the traditional method where an artist spends a lot of time drawing an entirely accurate caricature out of the photo you sent. Instead, AI technology scans the facial features on the picture. Then, it replicates it in the form of a caricature in the shortest time possible.

With AI technology, anyone can turn photos to caricature within minutes without waiting for your artist’s updates. If you are also not happy with the output, you can try from more than 60 modes available on Caricaturer.io. Moreover, with its state-of-the-art technology, you do not have to worry about having all the caricatures look very much alike.

Steps on Using Caricaturer.io

Using Caricaturer.io is easy. Anyone can use it, even if you are not an artist. But, first, you have to follow these three easy steps.

  • First, upload a photo with face in it on the website, then let the AI scan the facial features. 
  • Second, you have to wait for the processing time. Just take a cup of coffee before the process done.
  • Third, you can get over 60 pictures with cartoon effects. Enjoy them and choose what you want. 
  • Create a personal account and download a batch with HD quality.

Remember that all process is totally free and this website won’t take your money away. 

Why Use Caricaturer.io 

You can use Caricaturer.io to produce the best caricatures in minutes. You can also choose up to more than 60 modes depending on your preference, and there is always a caricature perfect for every taste. You can even use other techniques used by artists in creating caricatures, such as Reilly Abstraction, Exaggeration, Rough Sketching, and many others.

Read: How to Turn A Picture into A Pencil Sketch?

With Caricaturer.io, you can have a gorgeous caricature within minutes, saving you time to wait and money since you can get it for free. You need to be a member, which also costs nothing, to get the HD photos for your needs. Otherwise, the versions you will get can still look decent enough to be framed as gifts.

What needs to be improved

It would be much better if users could leave a signature on the photo that does not look like a logo, the same way artists can leave signatures on their works. Apart from that, it is already a good experience for those who need caricatures in a short time.

Conclusion

With Caricaturer.io, transforming photo to caricature is easy with three simple steps. It does not require you to pay anything, and it provides a vast assortment of styles and modes to choose from. If you are artists, this tool helps you get more inspiration. If you are not artists, this quick tool save your time to turn image into cartoon effects. Thanks to the latest AI technology, get to create the best caricatures and impress your friends and loved ones in seconds.

How To Download Games From The Internet: 5 Steps To Help You

Daniel Odoh
-
0
How To Download Games From The Internet: 5 Steps To Help You

Gaming has been one of the best ways to relax since forever. Games have been an essential part of every culture. In fact, the importance of playing games can be evaluated by the fact that many countries have their own national games.

Gaming enhances our physical capabilities and revamps our minds to think better. They help you become more creative and imaginative. They also help you form social bonds.

Over time, our games have evolved. We started with Knucklebones and dice games, and now we have reached an era where video games are the norm.

You can get these games from the Apple Store, Android Store, or third-party websites like https://ipiratebay.org/.

Today, we will talk about the different ways in which you can download games from the internet.

Downloading Game Tips

Before we can start with ways in which you can download games from the internet, there are a few things that you need to consider. 

  • The first thing you need to do is ensure that you are connected to a stable internet connection. Some of the game files are quite large. So, it is advisable that you are on a broadband connection.
  • Check the installation requirements of the video games you play. You cannot download just any video games to your system and expect it to work properly. Ensure that your computer’s GPU, CPU, and RAM match the game’s minimal requirements.
  • Lastly, have enough storage in your system so that you can easily download and install the game.

Steps To Download Games From The Internet

The internet world is full of platforms offering game files to download. For instance, you can use their official website, Apple App Store, Android App Store, or any third-party platform. Furthermore, you can use these platforms to download any game you like.

No matter which platform you use to download your favorite game, the steps to download the game remain almost the same.

Step 1: Enter The World Download + The Game You Want

The first step is to access the internet connection using a web browser. Search for the game on the search engine with a download at the end of the game’s name. The search engine will show you numerous results.

The first 2-3 hits are the most suitable links to download the game. Next, open the links to see game requirements.

Step 2: Compare The Required Or Recommended Specification

The next step is to look at the minimum requirement of the game. This step is important to understand which game is supported by your system. 

The best way to follow through with this step is to prepare a system specification checklist beforehand and match the minimum specification requirements of the game.

Step 3: Click The Link To Download The Game

If the minimum specification of the game matches your system specification, you can download the game to your system.

To download the game, click the download link button.

Be vigilant about the buttons you click. There are many advertisement buttons that make the users download different games.

After the download ID completes, check for the file extension. If the file extension ends with ‘Exe’ or ‘.Scr’, the file may be infected by viruses.

Step 4: Scan The Downloaded File

After the download is complete, scan to file for any viruses. This step is crucial whether or not you are downloading the file from a reputable website.

The downloading process is quite sensitive and risk-prone to malware attacks. Scanning the file will mitigate the risk of infection.

Step 5: Install

Once everything is clear, install the game on your system. This process might take some time. Once the installation is complete, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to complete the setup.

Final Thoughts

While downloading a game from the internet, ensure that your system’s antivirus is active. This is just to take the necessary precaution in case you stumble upon a virus-infected website.

Even if the website is clean, scan the downloaded file to be doubly sure that no malicious malware has entered your system.

Read: 8 Essential Features That Make Games Engaging

That being said, we conclude our article here. If there are any questions, you can drop them in the comment section. We will make sure every question is answered.

How to Protect Yourself and Your Security on Dating Apps?

Daniel Odoh
-
0
How to Protect Yourself and Your Security on Dating Apps?

Online dating is fun. It has become so common that it’s almost interchangeable with traditional dating.

Dating apps and websites have provided us with a convenient new way to connect with people, but they have also introduced new issues. Identity theft, online harassment, and scams can all risk interacting with strangers through apps. And, if you decide to meet up in person, there’s a chance you’ll end up in physical danger.

Protecting our privacy online is no easy task these days, as it requires a lot of effort and a lot of technological assistance. It’s critical to understand digital privacy, how to protect your data on dating apps, and how compromising your privacy can lead to several other problems.

In retrospect, you have no control over how the other person treats you; however, you can control your online safety and security. In this article, we spoke with some of our industry friends to learn how to protect yourself and your privacy when using online dating apps.

Tips to protect yourself and your security on dating apps

Tips to protect yourself and your security on dating apps
Tips to protect yourself and your security on dating apps

Putting your personal information on dating apps, like many other online platforms these days, carries some risk. Many dating apps track your activity on the app and store the information. Furthermore, these apps do not assure users that their personal information, activities, or conversations remain private or secure. As a result, if you decide to use a dating app, you must take precautions to ensure that your privacy is protected as much as possible.

Here are some of the tips you can follow:

Personal information should never be included in a profile.

This information includes your last name, email, workplace, phone number, school, and neighborhood. With just one of these pieces of information, it’s simple to track down someone. Do not share your details in dating apps; instead, use fake names and profile pictures.

Think about what you want to share on the internet.

We’ve all got that one friend who knows the name of the guy we met at a restaurant last week and the name of the beer league softball team he plays for. It’s almost frightening how easy it is these days to find information about someone on the internet. 

You can protect your privacy by limiting the amount of personal information you share online, such as what you do, where you work, and your phone number. If you’re curious about what information exists about you, use a site like Nuwber to look it up.

Use different photos in dating apps and social media.

You’re making it very easy for someone to learn more about you online if you use the same photos for dating apps and social media. Your social media accounts, as well as the personal information you’ve shared there, can be found with a simple reverse image search. Use photos that you haven’t shared anywhere else online for dating apps.

Pick a good dating app that requires mutual interest before initiating contact.

Anyone can contact you on some of the most popular dating apps, regardless of whether you have expressed interest in them or not. This is a recipe for the horror stories we’ve all heard about dating app messages. By avoiding this type of dating app, you can keep unwanted messages to a minimum.

Be wary of dating apps that track your location.

While location settings can help you find potential dates in your area, make sure the dating app you’re using obscures your location sufficiently so that other users can’t tell where you are.

Stick to the messaging system on the dating app.

Yes, it’s inconvenient, and you’re probably more interested in whether they’re green or blue, but when you’re first interacting with potential dates, use the dating app’s in-app messaging system. It gives the app an extra layer of protection. It also prevents your phone number from being shared with just anyone.

Make contact with mutual friends.

Dating apps will sometimes show you if you and the person you’re talking to have mutual friends. Please get in touch with those friends to find out how they feel about the person you’re interested in.

Never expose where you work.

If you mention your workplace and the person you’re speaking with turns out to be a creep, you don’t want them showing up at your workplace.

Before meeting in person, don’t give out your phone number.

Restrict communication to the app. Someone can find out your address and other personal information about you if they Google your phone number.

Keeping yourself safe on dates

So you’ve found a match, you’ve been chatting, and you’re ready to take things offline. That’s incredible! Protecting yourself also applies in the offline world, especially when meeting someone you met online. With these safe dating tips, you can take responsibility for your safety:

Do some additional research before agreeing to a date.

Regrettably, not everyone we meet online is who they say they are. Consider doing some background research on your potential date for your safety. Nuwber makes it simple to find publicly available information, such as police records. Verifying the identity of your potential date can help you spot any red flags and give you peace of mind before meeting them in person.

Go on your first date in a public place.

Going to a cafe, restaurant, sporting event, or any place with other people is a good idea for a first date. Your safety is less at risk in a public setting if something goes wrong or things don’t work out.

Tell someone where you’re going.

Before your first date, send a close friend a few details about where you’re going and who you’re going with. You can even schedule a check-in for later in the date or use your phone’s location-sharing feature to let your friend know where you are.

Conclusion

Protecting identities on online dating websites isn’t easy, and dating scams are rising year after year.

Like many other online platforms, online dating apps come with their own set of privacy concerns. If you plan to use a dating app, make sure you protect yourself and your personal information by being responsible for your online and offline safety. 

Read: Factors to Consider When Selecting a Security Service Company

Again, you have no responsibility for the predatory behavior of others, but you should feel empowered to protect yourself and avoid situations that make you feel unsafe or uncomfortable.

Keep the suggestions above in mind to ensure that you and your date are at ease, and then have fun meeting new people, eating delicious food, and exploring your city.

Everything You Need to Know About Digital Marketing

Micheal Nosa
-
0
Everything You Need to Know About Digital Marketing

The most cost-effective way to grow a business is digital marketing.

This type of marketing is far more affordable than traditional marketing.

It’s the fastest way to communicate with your customers.

This is the most targeted type of advertising available.

It’s a great way to build your brand and build trust.

Moreover, it is the most scalable and measurable marketing method available.

1. Digital Marketing

The use of the internet and other forms of digital communication to connect brands with potential customers is known as digital marketing, also known as online marketing. As marketing communications channels, email, social media, and web-based advertising are included, as well as text and multimedia messaging.

The basic definition of digital marketing is any marketing campaign that involves digital communication.

2. Importance of Digital Marketing

You can reach a larger audience through digital marketing and target prospects who are most likely to buy your products or services. Aside from that, it is often less expensive than traditional advertising, and you can measure success on a daily basis and pivot accordingly.

Digital marketing has a few major benefits. Here are four of them.

  1. You can only target prospects with the highest likelihood of purchasing your product or service.
  2. It is more affordable than traditional marketing methods.
  3. By using digital marketing, you can outrank larger players in your field.
  4. Marketing with digital technology is measurable.

3. Role of Digital Marketing for a Company

Traditional marketing might be done through print ads, telephone communications, or physical marketing, but digital marketing is done electronically and online. Brands can now reach their customers via email, video, social media, and search engines, thereby increasing their marketing opportunities.

4. Different Types of Digital Marketing

1. Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Search engine optimization involves optimizing a website in order to appear higher on search engine results pages, thereby increasing the amount of organic (or free) traffic it receives. Websites, blogs, and infographics are some of the channels that benefit from SEO. You can see more details on the ins and outs of SEO in this cheat sheet.

In order to drive qualified traffic to your website, SEO can be approached in a number of ways. Among them are:

  • On page SEO: On page SEO is a type of SEO that is concerned with the content that is available “on the page” of a website. Using keyword research to determine the search volume and intent (or meaning) of keywords, you can answer readers’ questions and rank higher on search engine results pages (SERPs) that these questions produce.
  • Off page SEO: Off page SEO focuses on all the actions taken “off the page” when optimizing a website. You might ask, “What activities off of my own site affect my ranking?”. The answer is backlinks, also known as inbound links. You rank highly for the keywords you care about based on how many publishers link to you, as well as the relative “authority” of those publishers. You can earn backlinks to your website by connecting with other publishers, writing guest posts for their websites (and linking back to your website), and generating external attention.
  • Technical SEO: Technical SEO is concerned with the backend of your website and how the pages are coded. Compression of images, structured data, and CSS file optimization are all forms of technical SEO that can increase your site’s loading speed – an important ranking factor in the minds of search engines like Google.

2. Content Marketing

Content marketing is the process of creating and promoting content assets for the purpose of generating customer awareness, traffic growth, and lead generation. You can implement your content marketing strategy using the following channels:

  • Blog posts: By publishing articles on your company’s blog, you can demonstrate your industry expertise and generate organic search traffic. Ultimately, this allows you to convert more website visitors into leads for your sales team.
  • Ebooks and whitepapers: These forms of long-form content like ebooks and whitepapers help visitors to your website become more knowledgeable. By exchanging content for a reader’s contact information, you can generate leads for your company and move them through the buyer’s journey.
  • Infographics: Sometimes readers prefer you to show rather than tell. Infographics are visual content that helps website visitors visualize a concept you want to educate them about.

3. Social Media Marketing

Your brand and your content are promoted through social media channels to increase brand awareness, drive traffic, and generate leads for your company. Social media marketing channels include:

  • Facebook.
  • Twitter.
  • LinkedIn.
  • Instagram.
  • Snapchat.
  • Pinterest.

4. Pay Per Click (PPC)

PPC is a technique for increasing traffic to your website by paying a publisher each time your ad is clicked. The most popular PPC technique is Google Ads, which allows you to buy top slots on Google’s search engine results pages for a price based on how many times your links are clicked. There are several other channels where you can use PPC:

  • Paid ads on Facebook: Users can pay to have a video, picture, or slideshow customized, and Facebook will publish it to the newsfeeds of people who match your business’s target audience.
  • Twitter Ads campaigns: Using this service, users can place a series of posts or profile badges in the news feeds of a certain audience, aimed at accomplishing a specific business goal. You can use this goal to increase website traffic, increase Twitter followers, tweet engagement, or even get more app downloads.
  • Sponsored Messages on LinkedIn: Users can pay to contact specific LinkedIn users based on their background and industry.

5. Affiliate Marketing

It is performance-based advertising, where you earn commissions for promoting the products or services of another company via your website. There are many affiliate marketing channels, including:

  • Host video ads through YouTube’s Partner Program.
  • Post affiliate links to your social media accounts.

6. Email Marketing

Email marketing is used by companies to communicate with their audiences. Businesses often use email to promote content, discounts, and events as well as direct potential customers to their website. Among the types of emails you might send in an email marketing campaign are:

  • Subscribe to the blog newsletter.
  • Send follow-up emails to website visitors who have downloaded something.
  • Welcome emails to customers.
  • Loyalty program members receive holiday promotions.
  • For customer nurturing, send tips or a similar series of emails.

7. Sponsored Content

A sponsored content agreement is an agreement where you, as a brand, pay another company or entity to create and share content that discusses your product or service.

Influencer marketing is a popular type of sponsored content. In this type of sponsored content, a brand sponsors an influencer within its industry to share content linked to the brand on social media.

Another example of sponsored content is an article or blog post written to spotlight a topic, brand, or service.

5. Role of a Digital Marketer

Digital is responsible for driving brand awareness and lead generation through all the digital channels – free and paid – that are available to their company. A few examples of these channels are social media, the company’s website, search engine rankings, email, display advertising, and blogging.

Digital marketers usually focus on different Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for each channel so they can properly measure performance. Digital marketers in charge of search engine optimization, for example, measure their website’s “organic traffic” – traffic that comes from users who find a page of their website via a Google search.

Many marketing roles today involve digital marketing. Many of the digital marketing tactics listed above might be handled simultaneously by one generalist at a small company. In larger companies, these tactics are handled by multiple specialists who are each responsible for handling just one or two channels.

These are some examples of these specialists:

1. SEO Manager

Primary Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Organic traffic

SEO managers help businesses rank on Google. This person might use a variety of search engine optimization techniques to ensure that the content produced by content creators performs well on Google, even if the company also posts it on social media.

2. Content Marketing Specialist

Primary Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Time on page, overall blog traffic, YouTube channel subscribers

Digital content creators are content marketing specialists. They regularly adhere to the blog calendar and develop a content strategy that includes video as well. They often coordinate with other departments to ensure that the business launches products and campaigns that are supported with promotional content on each digital channel.

3. Social Media Manager

Primary Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Follows, Impressions, Shares

Social media managers manage social networks for their companies, but which ones depend on the industry. The company’s social media managers plan the company’s written and visual content posting schedule. Additionally, this employee might work with a content marketing specialist to develop a plan for what to post on which social network.

6. Digital Marketing: How to Get Started

1. Establish your goals.

The first thing you need to do when you’re starting out with digital marketing is to identify your goals, since your strategy will differ based on those goals. You might want to pay more attention to reaching new audiences via social media, as an example, if you are trying to increase brand awareness.

In addition, if you want to increase sales on a specific product, you should focus more on SEO and content optimization to attract potential buyers to your website. Furthermore, if you want to drive traffic through paid advertising, you might try PPC campaigns.

After you determine your company’s biggest goals, you can begin developing a digital marketing strategy.

2. Determine your target audience.

The biggest benefit of digital marketing is targeting specific audiences – however, you can’t make the most of that benefit without first identifying your target audience.

3. Create a budget for each of the digital channels.

It really depends on what aspects of digital marketing you’d like to include in your marketing strategy when determining your budget.

Inbound marketing techniques like SEO, social media and content creation for an existing website don’t require a lot of budgets. Inbound marketing is about creating high-quality content that your audience wants to consume, which means that unless you plan to outsource the work, the only investment is your time.

Outbound techniques such as online advertising and buying email lists are certainly expensive. It depends on the level of visibility you want to gain from the advertising.

When you use Google AdWords to implement PPC, you’ll compete against other businesses in your industry to appear at the top of Google’s search results for keywords related to your business. The cost of this can vary depending on the competitiveness of the keyword, which is why you should also focus on building your organic reach.

4. Find the right balance between paid and free digital approaches.

For a digital marketing strategy to be truly effective, it will need both paid and free elements.

If you spend time creating buyer personas to understand the needs of your audience and create quality content that attracts and converts them, you’re likely to see great results within the first six months despite spending little money on advertising.

The results may come even faster if you include paid advertising in your digital strategy.

For long-term success, it’s recommended to focus on building your organic (or “free”) reach through content, SEO, and social media.

Test both free and paid channels and iterate on your process as you determine which is most effective for your brand.

5. Produce engaging content.

As soon as you have an audience and a budget, you can begin creating content for the different channels you’ll be using. There are various types of content you can use, including social media posts, blog posts, PPC ads, sponsored content, email marketing newsletters, and more.

You must make sure that the content you create is engaging and interesting to your audience since the point of marketing content is to increase brand awareness and generate leads.

6. Create mobile-friendly digital assets.

Mobile marketing is another key component of digital marketing. As a whole, American smartphone users consume 69% of all digital media time, while desktop users consume less than half – and the country is still not among mobile’s biggest fans.

As a result, you need to optimize your digital ads, web pages, social media images, and other digital assets to be compatible with mobile devices. Apps that enable users to interact with your brand or shop your products fall under the umbrella of digital marketing, too.

7. Perform keyword research.

In digital marketing, you need to reach targeted audiences with personalized content, which is impossible without effective keyword research.

You must conduct keyword research in order to optimize your website and content for search engines and ensure that people can find your business. Further, social media keyword research can be useful for marketing your products or services across various social channels.

8. Iterate depending on your analytics.

Finally, you must learn how to pivot according to analytics in order to develop an effective digital marketing strategy for the long term.

For example, perhaps your audience on Instagram isn’t as interested in your content any longer, but they love what you have to say on Twitter. Certainly, you should reexamine your Instagram strategy as a whole, but it could also indicate that your audience prefers to consume branded content on another channel.

Alternatively, perhaps you’re not getting the traffic your older web pages used to get. For visitors to find the most relevant content to their needs, you may wish to update the page or delete it entirely.

With digital marketing, businesses have incredibly flexible opportunities for growth – but it’s up to them to take advantage of them.

1...114115116...178Page 115 of 178
© Newspaper WordPress Theme by TagDiv