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In 2018, Microsoft deployed a datacenter 117 feet deep in the seafloor off Scotland’s Orkney Islands. For two years, Microsoft team members analyzed and monitored the servers’ operation and dependability. Now covered in algae, barnacles, and sea anemones, the datacenter is back on land.

The underwater datacenter was deployed in an effort to remedy equipment failure and provide a solution to internet availability throughout the globe. Microsoft team members were also aiming to improve the overall quality of datacenters in terms of reliability and function. Oftentimes, datacenters on land are susceptible to corrosion due to elemental factors such as humidity, oxygen, and temperature changes. After analyzing the underwater datacenter, the Microsoft team found that it performed exceptionally well.

Prior to the Orkney Islands datacenter deployment, the same Microsoft team proved the underwater datacenter concept was feasible in 2015 by deploying a different datacenter in the Pacific Ocean for roughly four months. Piggybacking off the Pacific Ocean datacenter’s success, the Microsoft team decided to test their concept even more in 2018.

Datacenters are a main pillar in cloud computing, containing networks of powerful computers that perform intricate tasks such as storing, processing, and transferring or allocating immense amounts of data. Datacenter proximity is a factor in speed and a reduced lag time for those who access the internet. The closer the datacenter, the quicker downloads, games, and Web browsers function.

Another factor in deploying the datacenters was to highlight environmental sustainability. The Orkney Islands were selected, in part, due to their renewable energy technologies. Their electrical grid is supplied 100 percent by wind and solar energy. “We have been able to run really well on what most land-based datacenters consider an unreliable grid, said Spencer Fowers, an integral member of technical staff for Microsoft’s Special Project research group. “We are hopeful that we can look at our findings and say maybe we don’t need to have quite as much infrastructure focused on power and reliability,” he continued.

To read more about the underwater datacenter, check out this Microsoft article. Want to improve your cloud setup or do you have a Microsoft product that needs a refresher? Contact Creative Programs & Systems today – we can help with all of your technical questions.

Founded in 1994, CPS provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

If you walk up to a particular Whole Foods storefront in Brooklyn, New York, expecting to walk around and shop, think again. Amazon opened its first “permanent online-only” warehouse to meet the growing demand for grocery delivery. Whole Foods was bought by Amazon in 2017 for $13.2 billion.

This isn’t the first Amazon and Whole Foods store, however. Amazon Fresh, a traditional supermarket with “smart” technology such as an Amazon Alexa shopping assistant and high-tech grocery carts, was launched recently in California. Amazon also opened a smaller grocery store that uses checkout-free technology called Amazon Go Grocery. Several other online grocery delivery services have already been in use for quite some time, such as Amazon Fresh, a grocery delivery service, and Prime Pantry, where consumers can shop for everyday household items in single quantities.

In a recent blog post, Amazon stated, “Grocery delivery continues to be one of the fastest-growing businesses at Amazon. In fact, online grocery sales tripled year over year in the second quarter this year, indicating that more customers than ever before are turning to Amazon for grocery delivery options. Together, we’re thrilled to increase access to grocery delivery. It’s never been more important.”

Thinking of taking your brick-and-mortar business online? Creative Programs & Systems can help you with that! We customize websites using the latest technology – never templates – including CRM, barcode apps, UX design, e-commerce, web analytics, digital marketing, and much more. Check out this article for further information regarding the online-only Whole Foods.

Founded in 1994, CPS provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

Written by the digital marketing staff at Creative Programs & Systems: www.cpsmi.com.

Despite challenges, URLs are the age-old way users identify and determine a website’s authenticity. Phishing, scams, and social engineering run rampant – especially when hackers easily manipulate URLs to confuse users purposefully. 

The new version of Google Chrome 86, which is set to release in October, will hide most of a website’s URL. This experimental trial will roll out on randomly-chosen participants’ browsers. Google Chrome security team members Emily Stark, Eric Mill, and Shweta Panditrao wrote on the blog: “Our goal is to understand – through real-world usage – whether showing URLs this way helps users realize they’re visiting a malicious website, and protects them from phishing and social engineering attacks.” 

Instead of showing the entire URL in Chrome’s address bar, trial participants will see a “registrable domain,” which is the most significant part of the domain name, sometimes displayed as the primary company or business. This change might make it easier for users to ensure they are in the right place and not a malicious site they were tricked into visiting. 

The complete URL can still be accessed by moving the cursor over the address bar and hovering it. Chrome will then reconstitute the URL into its original form. Moreover, users can right-click “Always show full URLs,” which will set the address bar to show the URL for all sites automatically. 


Read more about Google’s anti-phishing attempts in this article. 
 If you have been a victim of phishing, Creative Programs & Systems offers affordable virus remediation and more. Founded in 1994, CPS provides professional results for all computer needs. We design, create, and code an array of custom software programs and websites; implement internet marketing strategies for enhanced Search Engine Optimization (SEO) results; repair and provide support for computers of both residential and professional nature; build custom systems and servers, and offer secure data backups. Need assistance or want to learn more? Call us at 810-224-5252 or e-mail info@cpsmi.com.

On July 26th, engineer William English passed away at the age of 91. He leaves behind a legacy in the computer technology field for his achievements alongside his partner, Douglas Engelbart, for creating the first computer mouse that revolutionized workstations that we all know and use today. According to this article, William and Douglas began their partnership in the late 1950s at the Stanford Research Institute. Douglas initially came up with the idea of a device that could move a cursor across a computer, but William oversaw the design and the creation of what was later called “the mouse.”

It’s not exactly clear how the mouse name has originated; however, some experts believe it referenced the cursor, which was at the time was called “cat,” that would chase the motions of the device. Others have said the name came from its physical appearance resembling a mouse tail attached to the device. The first version of the mouse was introduced at a 1968 convention with a wooden block that had wheels on the bottom. This convention was later known as “The Mother of All Demos” since there were multiple new demonstrations with significant impacts on the technological world such as the computer window, video call, and precursor to the hyperlink. A few years later, William English left Stanford to work at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center and polished the mouse design for personal use for both Microsoft and Apple.

Not long ago, it used to be that your business could get away with just a simple website and a few social media pages to compete in the online marketing space. However, in today’s online environment, it’s not enough. The digital marketing world demands that you always make efforts to get in front of your target audience by publishing content and digital ad campaigns. It’s also essential to stay ahead of emerging technologies and digital trends as the industry continually evolves and shifts. Below are five digital marketing trends for 2020 (and beyond) that you should be aware of:

1. Facebook is Not the Kingpin of Social Media Anymore

About 5-10 years ago, Facebook was the king of social media and held the second position for the most popular website (just behind Google). It’s now been replaced with YouTube. This doesn’t mean that Facebook is no longer a hugely influential and authoritative site to market on. According to Forbes, 41% of Facebook’s users are over the age of 65, which means the younger audiences have migrated over to Instagram, Snapchat, and now the emerging new social giant, TikTok. If you’re a local business, advertising on Facebook may make sense if you have an older demographic you want to get in front of. However, if you need to reach a younger crowd, consider looking into other social media sites where they spend most of their time. 

• Instagram is Still One of the Top Choices to Reach Younger Audiences

Instagram has already passed one billion users and is one of the most rapidly growing social media platforms with a primarily younger crowd (typically under 30). However, one change that Instagram recently made was removing the “like” feature on posts to decrease competitive pressure among people who value popularity. Since Facebook owns Instagram, most likely, we might see Facebook follow suite. If you need to get in front of people under 30, Instagram should be considered a critical component in your marketing plan. 

• Chatbots Will Start to Become Ubiquitous in Customer Service

Artificial Intelligence (AI) will become a dominant factor in about 10-20 years as we’ll see smarter voice assistants embedded within our environments and robots’ services our stores. Many forms of AI are already here, even though they may not seem super-human yet. Several companies will start utilizing chatbots to help with customer service – acting like a virtual “concierge” by communicating with users and assisting them in completing their goals.  

It is said that 80% of businesses claim they want to start using chatbots this year. Some of the benefits are 24-hour service, instant responses to customer queries, and no need for break, vacation, or overtime pay. Tidio research company from January 2020 found that 43% of consumers prefer to message an online chatbot than talk to a person when it comes to customer service. With the benefits of chatbots becoming more cost-effective for business and consumers preferring it over typical customer support, this is one trend that is here to stay.

• Video Should be Considered a Necessity, Not an Option

The popularity of video cannot be overstated enough. If your business isn’t already utilizing videos, most likely, your competitors are. Static images and text-based content can’t compete with the multifaceted layers videos can accomplish. More people are consuming video content than ever before, and they are using their phones to share the content. Think about these stats from Impact BND:

• 70% of consumers have shared a brand’s video
• 52% of consumers claim that watching product videos makes them more confident and guides their online purchasing decisions 
• 72% of businesses believe video content has improved their conversion rates

Live streaming video is also a powerful way to engage your audience by posting live video updates about your products, services, and brand. Popular video sites like YouTube and now TikTok are great sites to get started if you’re considering video for your marketing. 

• Content Is Still King

For years, it has been said that content is king, which is more accurate now than ever, with a few modifications. The changes are coming in sub-niches and nuances in content. You must provide exactly the right information that users are looking for when they land on a page on your website. Google released its BERT update in November 2019, which helps the search engine understand the natural language in user search queries. All this means Google is getting smarter, and companies must keep this in mind as they develop content that is relevant to the user and good quality if they want to stay ahead on search engine rankings. 

To read more digital marketing trends for 2020, click here. 

If you need assistance in improving your website and increasing your online presence, Creative Programs and Systems are here to help! Our team of staff is locally employed, in-house, with a dedication to detail. Call CPS, open Monday – Friday, 9 am to 5 pm (810) 224-5252.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, TikTok seemed to create a buzz around the world as millions of people were finding themselves with more free time, watching the latest viral videos on the platform, and sharing it with close friends and family.

What is TikTok?

For those who are not familiar with TikTok, it is a smartphone application that can be used to create and share short videos. ByteDance initially launched it in September 2016 for markets outside of China, which then bought Musical.ly in late 2017. As a result of the merger, TikTok had smooth access to targeting the U.S. teenage market, which previously belonged to Musical.ly. TikTok may have originally aimed at a younger audience, but its influence has spanned all generations. 

As a company, TikTok aims its mission to “to capture and present the world’s creativity, knowledge, and precious life moments, directly from the mobile phone.“ TikTok enables everyone to be a creator and encourages users to share their passion and creative expression through videos. With this mantra, TikTok competes with social media giants like YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook, all of which have the backing of either Google or Facebook. 

TikTok stands out because it’s more of an entertainment platform instead of a lifestyle platform. It has become popular because of its simplicity, ease of access, and convenience to create content.

Does TicTok have Marketing Potential for Brands? 

Actually, yes, it does. Several companies have already been utilizing the platform, catching the new social media trend that has exploded in popularity and is only expected to increase in its growth. According to Comscore, in March 2020, it added more than 12 million unique visitors, reaching 52.2 million users. 

Between January and March, its U.S. unique visitor count rose 48.3%, and with growth like this, innovative marketers have jumped on the bandwagon to capitalize on its viability. 

How Can You Utilize TikTok as a Marketing Vehicle for Your Brand?

Part art and part science, creating viral content for your brand on TikTok require a few essential components:

• Creativity and Directives – Hashtag challenges are the frame among marketers, which are primarily rooted in the hashtag challenge. Creative brands are joining the “TikTok Billionaire’s Club,” achieving over a billion views in a viral campaign. These hashtag challenges are branded and unique to each company, which are often supported by influencers, musicians, artists, and paid digital marketing ad campaigns. 

Hashtag challenges must start with a clear prompt – what are you asking users to do or be a part of? This prompt must be balanced with a clear invitation for creative interpretation. People want to participate because of the opportunity for creativity, self-expression, and recognition. Keeping the balance between intention and freedom for users is the key to virality when having users participate with your brand on TikTok. 

• Finessing Brand Integration – There is a balance between brand integration and being delicate with users about brand inclusion. The main point is not to be too aggressive with brand messaging or inclusion, as this can decrease virality. You want to include just enough drive KPI (key performance indicators) while keeping it fun and lighthearted. NYX Cosmetics’ #ButterGlossPop, for example, promoted their best-selling “Butter Gloss Lips Gloss” with a song that users could relate with and dance to – all while swiping on the lip gloss to a fancy beat. 

• Music Selection – Choosing the right music for a challenge is paramount to success. Music is so vital to a TikTok challenge that it can make or break it, even if everything else is spot on. Other platforms, music is not necessarily considered a huge deal, but on TikTok, it’s the powerhouse to virality and engagement. Ideally, you want to create each second count within the 15-second track, making it clear what people are supposed to do and inspire the user’s imagination. 

• Influencers – While not necessarily needed for smaller brands and businesses, influencers can have a significant impact on the success of a hashtag challenge. The primary role of the influencer is to model the challenge and inspire people to participate. Many think that reach (the number of people that a video reaches) is the only focus of a notable challenge when utilizing an influencer, which is not the case.

The media buy (paid advertising strategy) coupled with the challenge the influencer brings is the way to jumpstart virality and notoriety. Choose a group of influencers within your market, industry, or location to speak to your brand’s different demographic segments. Doing so will increase affinity with the different personalities of your brand’s demographics and capture the energy of the challenge in many different variations.

If you are interested in learning how we can help you expand your online presence or have questions regarding Digital Marking, give the professionals at CPS a call. Our team of staff is locally employed, in-house, with a dedication to detail. 

Creative Programs and Systems, open Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (810) 224-5252. 

On May 4^th, Google started its first day of a several week rollout initiative for its new core algorithm update. There have now been two core updates since 2020, the first one being in January. Both updates have been substantial with significant moves in website search engine placement ranks (SERPs) in nearly all industry verticals.

While January’s update only produced an average of 8 volatility points, a few days after the May 4^th rollout, SERPs saw volatility rates from 9 to 9.4 points. Thus, the May 4^th core update seems to be significantly more substantial and more influencing of SERPs and their positions. Broad core algorithm updates are designed to bring about noticeable changes within all search results across all countries and languages. We can only really know the full impact of the updates influence several weeks after the process has begun.

The coronavirus added another layer of intense SERP fluctuation as search volume was dramatically affected in nearly all industries due to the nationwide stay-at-home orders and mandated non-essential business shutdowns. We expected to see user queries related to travel, tourism, live events, restaurants, etc., to be significantly down. Not surprisingly, many of the category’s volatility did just that.

Unfortunately, this update’s highest impact has occurred across several industries that were already affected by the pandemic. The most influenced categories are Travel, Real Estate, Health, Pets & Animals, and People & Society – this is for both desktop and mobile searches. The top verticals with the best SERP performance are News, Business & Industrial, Online Communities, Arts & Entertainment, and Health. The biggest winner of these is the news industry. As everyone has been shut-in for quarantine and fixated on the latest pandemic updates, it’s no surprise that news outlets have come out on top.

On the other end of the SERP coin, websites that services and orchestrate travel and events have dropped to the bottom of the search volume barrel. When you’re locked in your home with limited options for essential services, your last thought is that vacation or trip you want to take. 

What can you do if your site has been negatively affected?

May 18^th marked the last day of completion for the update and the following weeks will allow us to assess the full extent of the changes that have taken place. It’s important to review your Google Analytics (website traffic), to see if there have been any significant changes to your site traffic in May.

Keep in mind that negative ranking does not always indicate that something is wrong with your website. However, in case it does, Google offers a list of questions to consider if the core update has adversely impacted your site. Visit  https://searchengineland.com/google-advice-on-improving-your-sites-ranking-for-future-core-ranking-update-320184 for more information. If you have seen a noticeable drop in traffic in the month of May, it is beneficial to read this article prior to making any website changes.

If you need assistance in improving your website and increasing your digital footprint and marketing, we are here to help! Our team of staff is locally employed, in-house, with a dedication to detail. Call Creative Programs and Systems; open Monday – Friday 9 am to 5 pm (810) 224-5252.

There are many digital marketing activities that can expand your brand’s presence and increase your visibility online. The most recognizable way to increase your brand’s search authority (non-digitally) is television, radio, billboards, and direct mail. However, these channels tend to be unaffordable for most small businesses. Below is a list of alternative marketing avenues that can create brand awareness at affordable prices.

1. Remarketing – Is when display or text ads are shown to a user after they have visited a website. Remarketing ads are usually called “the walking billboard” and can be a great way to maximize your brand exposure without spending a fortune. 

2.      Social Media – Facebook is the 2nd most popular website in the world, with billions of logins every day; it just makes sense to get in front of this audience. The cost-per-click (CPCs) are significantly less expensive than Google search ads and can be highly effective in growing your brand, website traffic, and followers. 

3.      Webinars – Are a great way to feature your expertise to your prospects and can be very informative. They also allow you to connect with your audience in a way that cannot be done with any other vehicle. Webinars can later be used for social posts or advertising campaigns. 

4.      Email Marketing – Email is still a very powerful medium in today’s digital marketing world and is an excellent way to communicate with your customers. The good thing is that it is still relativity cheap to send out thousands of emails and strengthens customer loyalty.

As mentioned, there are many other types of traditional marketing strategies that a small business owner can partake in to expand their brand recognition. Still, they are typically cost-prohibitive and hard to track in terms of ROI. The digital marketing channels mentioned above are an excellent way to grow not only your digital footprint but also your customer base at affordable prices. 

If you are interested in learning how we can help you expand your online presence, or if you have questions regarding Digital Marking, give the professionals at CPS a call. Our team of staff is employed locally, in-house, with a dedication to detail.

Creative Programs and Systems, open Monday – Friday from 9 am to 5 pm (810)224-5252.

COVID-19 has forever changed the U.S. and the world. Even though these current times may seem isolating and somewhat distressing, we can still help our fellow friends and family members. Our state and local community patrons could use our help too.

Here are several ways we can all help:

For Michigan:

The COVID-19 Community Response Fund: Hosted by United Way in partnership with corporate, nonprofit, and foundation entities. This fund will allow you to rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations that are offering emergency relief to families and individuals in need within the southeastern Michigan areas. Learn More.

Become a Michigan Medical Volunteer: If you are a qualified health professional or related to the health industry, Michigan could use your help. If you are willing to support Michigan’s efforts in volunteering, go to Michigan.gov  to complete your registration. The state does not guarantee positions for any medical personnel, but they will contact you should the need arise.

CDC Foundation: The CDC Foundation Supports the critical health protection work of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC Foundation is raising emergency response funds to enable the CDC to conduct its responses to COVID-19. Learn More.

For Your Local County:

The American Red Cross: Due to the cancellation of blood drives, the American Red Cross faces severe blood shortages and could use your donation. Call 1-800-RED-CROSS to find a local donation site. Go here to learn how you can help.

Local Food Banks: People more than ever before are at risk for hunger due to this pandemic. Most school districts are continuing their breakfast and lunch programs, which disperses food to children who qualify even while school is closed. Local food pantries are available in almost every county. Go here to find one near you. https://ampleharvest.org/find-pantry/

Reach Out: We could all use a pick-me-up, especially during these times, and a personal phone call can go a long way in cheering someone up. So, pick up the phone and make that call!

Michigan and the United States may be reaching the peak of the outbreak, but our job as caring human beings has just begun. We can do this, and a little help can go a long way!

The coronavirus continues to spread worldwide, causing panic and uncertainty for everyone as we deal with the pandemic. With health and safety remaining a top concern during this time, people continue to stay home and avoid commuting to work and going to stores, restaurants, and other public places. Customers are now secluded to their homes, spending more time on their computers and phones than ever before.
 
In-store foot traffic has almost completely disappeared, which is why digital marketing may be the best answer to business advertising options. According to this article, businesses and brands that are e-commerce based will most likely do better than traditional brick-and-mortar companies. As many of us are working from home, our shopping habits will start to develop into more online-based buying patterns that could stay with us even after the pandemic.
 
Online retailers and marketers need to use proper tools, knowledge, and strategies to meet customer expectations effectively. As the pandemic continues to change elements of our life daily, your marketing team must also be ready to act quickly when new obstacles come into this unstable business environment.