Wednesday, February 10, 2016

Twitter is making two major changes to the way its users' timelines appear.

Twitter is making two major changes to the way its users' timelines appear.
The app will show a selection of prioritised tweets, based on what it thinks users are "most likely to care about", ahead of the normal list of posts shown in reverse chronological order.
And a new First View feature will let marketers place a video ad high up in the feeds.
The announcements came ahead of the company's latest financial results.
They are designed to make users more engaged with the platform and appeal to advertisers.
But one expert said the extra prominence Twitter was giving to video ads might backfire.
"The reason why Facebook has been so successful of late is that it has been able to put sponsored posts and videos into people's feeds," commented Richard Holway, chairman of the TechMarketView consultancy.
"But Twitter is a different affair as people typically spend a much shorter time looking at each post, and putting intrusive videos at the top of their feeds, making it more cluttered, is going to upset a lot of people."

Mass awareness

Unlike normal ads on the platform - which algorithms target at specific users - a First View video will be shown to everyone within a region or country who uses Twitter over a 24-hour period.
That makes it a potentially more effective way to build mass awareness of a product over a short period of time.
But another company watcher also expressed doubts about the idea based on the examples Twitter had posted online.
"The whole point of in-feed ads is that they should seamlessly roll through and not interrupt your experience," said Sarah Vizard, Marketing Week's news editor.
"Brands will love [First View] as it sits across the top of the page and everyone will see it, but for the users themselves, they will think: 'It takes over most of the feed. I came here to see what the people I follow are posting and to find information, and to get to that I now have to clear the ad.'"

Twitter results

Twitter is due to post its full year's earnings after the US markets close.
The loss-making firm's shares are trading about 69% lower than where they were a year ago, partly because of concerns that its number of users is not growing fast enough.
Last month the Recode news site reported that the service had cut the number of ads being shown to some of its most active users as part of an effort to keep them engaged.
More recently, the hashtag #RIPTwitter began trending on the service after Buzzfeed reported that the platform planned to change the order tweets were presented in.

The firm has since clarified that a toggle switch in its app's settings will allow the new function to be turned on and off.
Twitter
If left selected, the "never miss important tweets" setting will affect up to the first 60 tweets shown at the top of a timeline.
If the user pulls to refresh the feed, it will return to its normal reverse-chronological ordered state.
Twitter said that users would see an on-screen prompt to alert them to the feature the first time they encountered it.
"No matter how much time you spend on Twitter, you probably feel like you've missed important tweets from accounts you follow," it said.
"We hear this from people every day. As a content consumer, the new Home timeline feature will help you catch up on tweets you don't want to miss from the people and topics you care about.
"As a content creator, it means your followers are more likely to see and engage with your best tweets. We've already noticed that people who have used this new feature tend to retweet and tweet more."
The firm's chief executive Jack Dorsey is expected to be quizzed about the expected impact of both the new changes during a conference call with analysts following its earnings announcement.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Al-Sultan Restaurant Kano



The Al-sultan serves up exquisite cuisines all in a classic environment seven days a week 

Al-Sultan refreshes the dining experience you can taste and feel; combining class, comfort, intimacy, and diversity.




Delivery & Catering Services Available 
                         

                            Order Now
               1 Audu Bako Way, Kano
                            08065577025

Friday, February 5, 2016

Blue Diamond Samsung Electronics Kano


Smart TV & Set top boxes

Smart TV & Set top boxes

With a Smart TV and set top box, you can bring exciting entertainment home. Our ranges feature impressive technology and stunning designs that offer home entertainment to please the whole family.
Enjoy the best internet content with a Smart TV, allowing you to watch catch up TV, including BBC iPlayer, as well as providing a range of apps and streaming services. Some Smart TVs let you browse websites or play games on your TV.
Get access to Freeview or Freesat services with our range of set top boxes. These free-to-view services provide you with digital channels and radio stations, including a range of channels available in high definition. Connect your aerial to your Freeview box, or your satellite dish to a Freesat box       

Blue Diamond Samsung Electronics

3/4 Hospital Road Kano

08065459819, 07058185555

Crown Best Global Telecoms Kano



Mobile phones

We all know how important it is to stay connected to your digital world, especially when you’re out and about.
From keeping in touch with friends and updating social media to staying connected to colleagues or clients, the right mobile phone can make all the difference.
Whatever your style, budget or need we’ve got the latest models from all the top brands. With innovative features and cutting-edge technology, our range of smartphones and smartphone accessories is guaranteed to impress.


Crown Best Global Telecoms Ltd 
        Crown Best Global Telecoms Ltd 
        19/21 Beirut Road, Kano
        Customer Care      
        08035566062, 08025310062

        

Yahoo is cutting 15% of its workforce

Yahoo logo



Yahoo is cutting 15% of its workforce as the company pursues an "aggressive strategic plan" to return to profitability.
The job cuts will reduce the number of its employees to about 9,000 by the end of 2016.
The announcement came as Yahoo reported a $4.3bn (£3bn) loss for the year.
In a statement, chief executive Marissa Mayer said: "This is a strong plan calling for bold shifts in products and in resources."
She added that it would "dramatically brighten our future and improve our competitiveness, and attractiveness to users, advertisers, and partners."
The head-count reduction is the latest part of Ms Mayer's attempt to turn around the troubled internet company, which is struggling to compete against the likes of Facebook and Google.

Cost-cutting

In December, the company announced it was reversing a plan to sell its stake in the Chinese e-commerce site Alibaba, and would instead look to spin off its core internet business.
Ms Mayer was forced to change course on the Alibaba sale following pressure from several activist investors.
The focus on cutting costs and raising profits is being seen as the latest sign that the company is becoming more serious about selling its core internet business.
But some analysts are sceptical.
"They can slim down to improve profitability, but they are in an industry that is growing and they're not," said Martin Pyykkonen, managing director at Rosenblatt Securities.
"If the core business was really a valuable asset someone would have come and tried to buy it already," he added.

Under pressure

As well as shedding much of its workforce, Yahoo plans to sell of some of its product lines - such as Yahoo TV and Yahoo Games - so that it can focus on its search business, email and Tumblr blogging site.
It is also closing offices in Dubai, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, Madrid, and Milan.
That should lead to "modest and accelerating growth in 2017 and 2018," the company said.
Yahoo has estimated the cutting back of its product line alone could generate $1bn.
Ms Mayer has been under pressure from investors to step down as chief executive.
"We would like to see a higher stock price, and we think Marissa and her current management team have become a hindrance to that," said Eric Jackson, managing director of SpringOwl.
Yahoo's shares fell 1.4% in after hours trading.

Friday, January 22, 2016

Why Do I Need a Website? Here are 21 Reasons

No Idea

Steve Jobs also asked ‘why’. He challenged every single operation within his company. Everyone, from the engineers to the accounting staff, did things differently, because Jobs would ask them why they did things in a certain way.
And answering, “Well, that’s what everybody else is going” simply wasn’t good enough.
When I started my first business several years ago, the first thing I thought was “I need to get a website”. Why did I think that? Why do I need a website?
I decided to get with the program and copy Steve Jobs to answer the fundamental questions about why I, a small business owner, actually need a website.

Why Do I Need a Website?

Reason #1 – Online brochure

Companies spend millions creating brochures and distributing them. By having a website you can skip that entirely. Your potential customers can find out about you and any of your products online. If you get most of your business through networking and personal connections, then they will want to check out your website.

Reason #2 – More customers

More than 2.4 billion people use the internet every day, and some 90% of those have purchased something, or contacted a company, online in the last 12 months. So by not having a website, you will be missing out on a big piece of the pie.

Reason #3 – Business value

Have you tried getting a business loan recently? It’s not easy, but if you try and the bank manager asks to see your website, you better have a pretty good one. It doesn’t just stop with the bank, the perceived value of your business will be lower in everyone’s eyes – especially your customers.

Reason #4 – Influence

By having a website potentially thousands of people are going to see it. You are able to influence people’s decisions and educate them.

Reason #5 – Time to show off

You know that great feeling you get when people recognize your work? Well, by having a website you can show off what you do and take pride in your work.

Reason #6 – Helps with business goals

That’s right! When it comes to writing the content for your website you are going to revisit things about your business that you haven’t in years. You will most likely reassess your business goals.

Reason #7 – Low barriers of entry

Ever wanted to start a business? Well, now you can do it with virtual space. In fact, by using some free website providers you don’t have to pay a penny.

Reason #8 – 24 hours per day

Your website runs 24/7 without any supervision or need to lock it up. You can always be there for your customers.

Reason #9 – Communication with customers

By having a blog or even just a feed on your website, you can update customers on your newest offers, products, promotions, events, photos, or any other content.

Reason #10 – Marketing

The internet has opened up a whole new world of marketing that didn’t exist before. Your website can attract new business by using a whole host of low cost marketing techniques.

Reason #11 – Customer support

You can greatly reduce the cost of customer support by have a ticketing system, or even just an FAQ on your website. I can think of about 5 companies off the top of my head that streamline your customer service straight from your website.

Reason #12 – Email@mywebsite.com

I know there are other ways to do this, but by having a website you can have your own email address@whateveryouwant.com. It is more professional and easier to remember. I know you love your steveman99286534@gmail.com , but it doesn’t really resonate with customers.

Reason #13 – Press releases

I know that sounds a bit far out, but it is true. You can run really cheap press releases online about your business, but to do it you will require a website. In fact, I have had clients who were absolute nobodies get one million views on YouTube because of online press releases.

Reason #14 – Stick it to the man

The best answer to “Why do I need a website?” would be that you can stick it to the man. It is the easiest way to quit your job and earn a living.

Reason #15 – Any topic or hobby will do

Do you love sports? How about ballet, alternative dance, photography, holidays, Kit-Kats, cars, skateboards, science or animals? Well, then you have a business idea just waiting to happen. The internet has room for an unlimited number of niche blogs that can attract traffic and revenue. Just pick something you love and start writing about it.

Reason# 16 – Connect with fellow web masters

On a little side note, if you own a website you get to call yourself a ‘web master’. Pretty cool! But reason #16 for ‘why I need a website’ is that you can easily make new business and personal connections with other website owners. This can lead to extra streams of income for you!

Reason #17 – Gives you a voice

Have you ever been in an argument with someone and said “Well, I have written an article about that on my website, and actually, that isn’t the case.” It feels great! For some reason people don’t want to argue with you if you’ve written about something on your website. It also gives you a place where you can voice your opinion without judgment. If someone leaves you a comment you don’t like you can just drag it over to the spam folder.

Reason #18 – Do business your own way

You don’t need permission from your boss or company lawyer. Ash Ambridgedrops the ‘F-Bomb’ all the time because she can, and no else is asking her to stop. Now she has a world class business with thousands of customers.

Reason #19 – Beat the big guys

Have you ever wanted to get into business, but don’t know how to compete with all the big names out there? By creating an incredibly beautiful website with a solid strategy behind it you can smash the big guys to pieces. You have no chance of building bigger skyscrapers, but your website can break down the perceived wall between you and them.

Reason #20 – Instant credibility

Have you ever had difficulty making that sale? Or convincing someone that you are the real deal. By having a well structured website you can foster instant credibility with anyone. You can provide the ultimate proof that you are, in fact, the realest of all deals (couldn’t resist that phrase).

Reason #21 – Helps you to find a new job

I bet you didn’t see this one coming. I have been harping on about how a website can help your business, but it can help you personally too. Not only can a website host your resume or CV, but by owning and managing your website you have demonstrated tons of hard and soft skills. Having worked in HR once upon a time, I know it is valuable.
So… why do I need a website?
Can you think of a couple of reasons why you shouldn’t? It wouldn’t be a balanced argument if you don’t.

How to Turn A Small Local Law Firm Into a National Giant

After generating 700,000+ leads for online universities and legal firms, we’ve seen a number of miracles happen over time.
One firm (that shall remain nameless) went from being worth a couple million to over $500 million in a few short years.
After 700k leads, 5,000 marketing tests, and 100,000 ads – here’s an exact guide to growing your law firm as large as you want.
The aim of this article is to give you complete control over how many clients you get, and how fast you get them.
If you don’t have time to read this article and just want us to take care of growing your law firm for you, then you can 
As a lawyer, you really are a cut above the rest. The average lawyer is smarter, richer, and more intimidating than the average American – whether people like it or not.
You understand things about the world that most people don’t. Why else would 60% of the elected officials in Congress be lawyers? It also means you are about to understand the words on this page better than anyone.

#1. The last opportunity for growth in the legal sector

All the big law firms are fighting over the same Fortune 500 companies.
They go after huge hundred million dollar cases and suck all of the Ivy League hopefuls into their jaws.
Since most big law firms are busy playing with the big fish, it presents a very unique opportunity to smaller law firms.
As a coffee shop owner, you have to compete with Starbucks (near impossible), yet as a local law firm you are most likely competing with another local law firm.
The playing field is relatively level (apart from a small number of exceptions).
And this is an easy game to play. For example, a small company here in Arizona came to us with a set marketing budget.
They were getting about 3-5 new inquiries per week. They were desperate for more.
After just one simple tweak to their marketing campaign, they got a 700% increase in leads without increasing their marketing budget.
I’ll reveal what the tweak was in a minute. In the rest of this article, I’ll reveal exactly how you can use simple ‘local techniques’ in order to build a huge law firm that you can sell for tens of millions of dollars when you want to retire.

#2. How to dominate one area of practice at a time

The key is to dominate one area of practice at a time – even if you do a lot more than one thing.
Let say you get 700% more leads than before with the same marketing budget. That literally has the same effect as spending 8 times more on marketing than your competitors.
Now imagine focussing all of that spending on something like personal injurycases. You will soon become the ‘go-to’ law firm for personal injury in your local area.
Then, you move towards leads for Family Law, using the same system. After all, you have the secret to getting more leads for a lower price.


Most smart law firms generate traffic to an offer page. That captures 10-20% of the people who respond to sales pitches.
They make their money from these guys and call it a day.
However, the really smart law firms don’t let go of the 80-90% of people who DON’T respond to sales pitches. They use technology which allows them to present a different pitch.
We call this a “Return Agent.”
A return agent is a specific piece of content tailored for people who hate sales pitches. THIS is the secret weapon that brings 80-90% of the people you could have lost back into the fold.
Once you know that secret, you’ll be able to afford to pay ten times as much for a lead and still make money.
While your competition are scratching their heads, you’re going to be taking on more clients. More on that in a little bit. First, let’s dive into how you can acquire those initial customers.

#3. Acquiring local leads who are ready to take action

So far we’ve said that you need to go after local leads and you need to focus time and money on one area of law before moving onto another. Now I’m going to show you how to tap into a source of traffic that is ready to take action.
We’ve tested over 5,000 variations of lead generation pages. The one thing that stuck out like a sore thumb during those tests was the disconnect between the number of leads generated and the amount of revenue they produced.
Just because a particular page gives you more leads, doesn’t mean it is going to translate into more money in your pocket.
How many times have you called upon a lead and they had no idea what you were calling about?
Times have changed.
80-90% of people don’t respond to sales pitches.
So you need to make money from the 10%, and cultivate the other 90% with a series of specific content pieces that are designed to be “non-salesy.”
More on those in a bit.
First, let me show you how to get your hands on the 10-20% of people who are ready to respond to your sales pitch now.
Most lawyers think Google Ads are too expensive. That’s because they don’t know what I am about to reveal to you. Look at these two ads:
What’s wrong with this picture?
Well, the top one is what most lawyers do, and they are wasting their money.
It states “Family Law Attorneys. Speak with a Family Law Specialist. State Bar of Nevada Certified.”
What a waste of space. I’m pretty sure that all law firms need to be “certified.” So that is NOT a selling point.
Compare that to the bottom ad.
Firstly, it states “Affordable Family Law” – they immediately give the prospect a positive benefit.
Secondly, it pre-frames them to take action. “Aggressive & Affordable Attorneys. Call Now For a Free Consultation!”
So when the prospects click on that link, they’ll be under no illusion about what to do next – they are going to call for a free consultation.
This alone could seriously reduce your cost per lead, and I’ve barely scratched the surface.
Quick tip: The best placement for your ad inside of Google is spot number 3. With good copy, you can get the same number of clicks as spot #1, yet pay much MUCH less for them.

#4. Crafting an offer they can’t refuse (online)

I mentioned a little while ago that we’ve tested over 5,000 variations of ‘offer pages’ to find the best one.
This was an especially big challenge because we didn’t want to test “how many” leads the page got, but rather “how much revenue” each page generated.
So we tagged every single user into a CRM and measured the results.
Finally, after years of painstakingly complex work and 5,000 variations, we have the offer page that generates the highest quality lead.
I personally think it is ugly, but who cares if it brings home the bacon?

By the way, by using this offer page we were able to generate 700% more leads (and higher quality) for that company I mentioned earlier. This was our secret weapon.
Across the board, this layouts wins.
We’ve tested it for:
IRS Attorneys
DUI Attorneys
Personal Injury
Family Law
Foreclosure Defence
Immigration Attorney
Bankruptcy… and so on and so forth.
Every single time we test it, it works.
That’s why my team has created a bunch of these templates ready to deploy.
Remember, this page still only gets the 10-20% of people who respond to sales pitches.
If you look at the example below, you’ll see that the whole page is one big fat sales pitch.


#5. 80-90% will still say “No”: Here’s how to get them back

Now we’re going to get into the good stuff – the stuff that will separate you from the pack.
Smart marketers do the few things I just mentioned. However, the top 0.1% of marketers – the high earners – do what I am about to reveal.
You don’t ever want to waste a marketing dollar.
Once someone goes to Google and types in “I want a lawyer for [blank]” and they click on your ad, you know that they want and need a lawyer.
Think about it.
Someone got off their lazy butt and searched for your service. They are in so much pain that they were seeking you out.
Just because that individual doesn’t respond to a sales pitch doesn’t mean they aren’t going to do business with another lawyer. Luckily, technology has been made available to us to catch them almost every single time.
Here’s how you do it. 
Tag “you’re it.”
When someone lands on your offer/landing page, there is a small piece of code you can put on there.
This piece of code is called a “Custom Audience Pixel.” It comes from Facebook and allows you to place ads in front of people when they start using their Facebook account.
Big deal. These people don’t respond to the sales pitch.
That’s why you introduce them to…
The perfect passive Return Agent.
Now that you know this person is interested in finding a lawyer, and you know they hate sales pitches, you send them something different.
We call this a “Passive Return Agent.”
It gently nudges them back to your business.
The trick here is to hit your prospect with a new and different return agent every single week. The more times you can do it, the better the result.
A return agent is a specifically tailored blog post which is designed to relieve some of the pain they are feeling. Since you already know what they are looking for (they typed it into Google), your return agent will give them small nuggets of information to help them solve that problem.
This positions you as the expert and you become their confidant. All without speaking a word to them. Pretty sneaky right?
Can you see how this is so much more powerful than other forms of marketing? Especially for law firms? If you would like us to just take care of this for you.
Source: big mouth marketing.