What Is Holding Your Website Back?

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In 2018, there is no excuse for not having an effective website ad a good online presence. However, this can often be a lot easier said than done, especially if you have found yourself in a bit of a rut and you do not know where you are going wrong. If your website is failing to have the positive impression you hoped for, read on to discover what could be holding it back.

A lack of security – There is only one place to begin, and this is with security. Today’s customers are savvy. They know that there are a lot of hackers and fraudulent businesses on the web today. They don’t want to take any risks, and so your website needs to be a safe haven. How do you achieve this? Firstly, you need to make sure the payment method available to your customers is secure. Aside from this, trust signals, including security badges, work well. You should also make sure there are a number of different ways for people to get in touch with your company.

No responsive design – Mobile has surpassed desktop in terms of Internet usage, and so if you have not had your website optimized for use across all devices, this is most definitely what is holding you back. You are going to be missing out on tons of potential customers. Not only this but not having a responsive design will hurt your search engine ranking too.

You have used a free website builder – Free website builders can be very tempting. After all, they are free! Nevertheless, these websites are very limited in terms of functionality, plus they offer nothing in terms of branding. Your website will look like thousands of others on the Internet, which is never good. Not only this, but it is likely that you will have to cope with a plethora of performance issues. Your website will also take a long time to load because, with every design facet, there are dozens of lines added to the back-end code. Slow load times create a poor user experience and this also hurts your search engine ranking.

You don’t capture customer information – Finally, a customer will present you with an abundance of information whenever they enter your website, and you need to capture it. This is essential in terms of target marketing and boosting the experience your website provides. From finding out at what point people leave your website to zoning in on buying habits, there is so much to gain by capturing consumer details.

Hopefully, you have now got to the bottom of where you are going wrong with your website. If you have noticed any of the errors mentioned above, there is no need to panic, but you do need to get to the bottom of the issue sooner rather than later so that you can start seeing the improvements you hoped for in terms of visibility and, ultimately, conversions.

Card Games Everyone Should Learn To Play

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Card games have been around for hundreds of years and they used to be the basis of entertainment for many people all over the world. In fact, they still are. Not only can you use marked cards to play cards tricks and amuse people with them, but there is an infinite number of card games you can play which are incredibly fun, take time to learn and can even improve your intelligence. Here are just some of the card games you and your family should learn this year for fun!

1. Crazy Eights

Crazy eights is a super simple game to learns and it is the perfect card game to teach your children to get them introduced to the idea of playing cards from a younger age. The aim of this game is super simple, be the first person to get rid of your cards! It is a fun game and can be a perfect one to play on your family night in.

2. Snip, Snap, Snorem

If you love the name then you will probably love the game too! Snip, snap, snorem is a hugely fun and energetic game which is the perfect one to play at your next party and games afternoon! It’s perfect for everyone in the family and it is pretty loud too at times!

3. Go Fish

Go fish is a game which many of us have grown up with from a young age, and it is usually one of the first card games we learn as a child. It is a simple concept and the whole idea is to get pairs of cards and be the first person to get rid of all of your cards. If you want to let the kids win a few times when starting out this will give them a huge sense of pride and achievement.

4. Rummy

Rummy is one of the most popular card games out there and it has a super simple premise: be the first one to get rid of all of your cards. You will start off with 7 cards each, and you will have a special float which can be added to pairs and flushes to substitute for a different card. During play, you will go from the King being the float and work your way down to the Ace. The idea is to make sets of at least three, and you must have a card you can throw away at the end in order to win.

5. Pig

Pig is a fun card game which has a similar premise to Rummy, however rather than looking for sets of three cards, you will be looking for a four of a kind. This can be a little more challenging than collecting three cards however if you play it right and be tactical when playing you should have no issues with winning this fast-paced game.

6. Beggar My Neighbor

Where most card games are all about getting rid of your cards, this game has the opposite aim. When playing beggar my neighbor you have to collect as many cards from your opponents as possible. It is a fun game and it is one you can play in a small group to increase the sense of danger.

7. War

War is a simple game and it is one which absolutely anyone can be the master of. You will both start off with a few cards and you aim will be to win the deck by playing a higher card than your opponent. There are of course certain rules that you will need to follow, and it can be a fun and exciting game to play during the evenings.

8. Rolling Stone

This card game is all about the suits of your hand, and it is a game which you will find fun but a little frustrating at the same time, everyone starts out with eight cards, and one card is turned over in the center of the table. You have to place a card of the same suit on top of the card. If you run out of the particular suit, you have to pick up the pile and start the game play over again with a new suit. This is a game which can go on for a long time, but when you do win you will feel amazing.

9.   Snap

Everyone knows how to play snap, and it is the easiest game in the entire world. Make sure when you do okay this that you are in a place where you don’t mind shouting and that you can handle a slap from the other players! It is a fast-paced and fun game which everyone loves to play.

10. Cheat

If you are a master at a poker face, this is the perfect game for you to play. The idea behind this game to is to be brilliant at bluffing and to trick your opponent into not knowing what you have in your hand. If you are able to trick them effectively, you will have a good chance of winning the pile from your opponent.

11. Spit

If you are looking for a game which is an ultimate challenge, spit, also known as Speed, is the game for you. You will start off with a few piles of cards lying face down on the table. You will have one pile with one card, one with two, one with three, one with four and one with five. The top card of each pile will be faced up. You only have one hand to play within this game and you have to be Quaker than your opponent. With half of the deck, you will pick up cards and match them to the pile by having the next card in the sequence. For example, if you had a 3 on the pile, you would need to pick up a 2 or a 4. The first person to empty their piles is the winner.

12. Old Maid

The old maid is a game which involves pairs, having fun, and an old maid. With traditional playing cards, you can bring a joker into the mix to act as the old maid, and the loser of the game is whoever has the old maid at the end. You will play into each other's hands during the game by picking one of their cards, and this is how the old maid can be passed from person to person. The idea is to get rid of all of your pairs without picking up the old maid.

13. Blackjack

Blackjack is a popular game to play and is often also known as 21. It is a card game which can be played online with this bitcoin blackjack guide or simply on the table. Each player will start the game with 2 cards, the aim is to get as close to 21 without going over and going bust. For example, if you had a king and an ace you would have the equivalent of a 10 and 11, which would mean that you win automatically. You can swap cards during the game to come closer to 21, but if you go over, you have to exit the game. It is a game which anyone can play and it can be really fun for holidays.

14. Poker

Poker comes in many many different forms, and it is a game which you either know back to front or don’t know at all. The beauty of poker is that it can become a great hobby for you for a long time to come. It is a game which you will carry on learning about throughout your years and you will always be able to improve on your knowledge and techniques. It is a game which you can teach to your kids and one which you can use to make some money for yourself too.

15. Solitaire

Solitaire is one of those old classics which almost everyone knows how to play because it was always on Windows XP. The aim of the game is to play out all of your cards and build each suit to complete your set. To start off the game you will have eight piles. The first pile will have one card, the second will have two, and so on until you reach the last pile. You will then place the rest of the deck above and turn one card out. Take the top card from each pile and face it upwards. The aim of the game is to match numbers in a sequence from the king to ace, alternating color as you go. For example, if you started with a red king, you would add a black queen on top and so on. When you pick up an ace you will want to place it above the piles and then start to add the 2,3,4,5… over it until the suit is complete. It’s the perfect game to play on your own if you have some time to kill and you want a simple way to relax. It can be great for training your brain too.

Refocusing on Outcomes over Metrics

As I continue to work in and get to used to a much different space within higher ed, I've come to realize a professional value I have that I think is a helpful mindset to strive for no matter where you work.

It's the idea that we should focus more on the outcomes of our work versus the metrics. We can often get too caught up in the numbers and analytics of our work as the world becomes more digital. While on one hand, I think higher ed could be more metric driven at times, we need to properly balance this with the actual outcomes we're trying to achieve. The number of likes on a post, for example, won't matter if we aren't improving the student experience or retention through our outreach efforts.

If you're looking for a way to integrate data into your work in a meaningful way (which yes, please do) then you can try to find correlations between data points. A metric in isolation is interesting, but is hard to take any action on. Correlating the data can help try to make sense of these disparate numbers. For example, you can see if there is a positive effect on retention among students who attend events on campus each semester. Folks like Presence have found exactly these sort of insights with their campus partners, which really help shape what outcomes you want to strive for and what will be meaningful action to get there.

This sort of mindset should be construed as trying to get in the way of the very personal and human work we do. It rather is augmenting us to be able to put our focus and effort in the right place at the right time. It's powering our high touch roles with technology.

Data and metrics are important. They can inform our work and direct our efforts. I appreciate the accessibility of current data dashboards in my own work (for some more thoughts on this, check out my book review for Winning with Data).

I hope as you evaluate your work, and the role technology and digital assessments play in it, you make sure to consider both metrics and outcomes as companions helping you towards your goals.

How To Make Your PC Last Longer

As a gamer, you will know how important it is that your computer lasts as long as possible at it’s best performance. There’s nothing worse than running through a game and your computer is only managing to kick out around 10 frames a second. Computers are expensive, so it’s understandable that you want to make it last a long time so that you can really get your money's worth out of it. Even if you’re not tech savvy and wouldn’t be able to tell a motherboard from a graphics card, it’s not difficult to make sure your PC lasts as long as you need it to. Take a look at these tips on making your PC last longer.

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Clean it regularly

The side of your computer should be able to be taken off with a simple unscrewing by hand. You will more than likely find a very thick layer of dust inside your computer, which actually slows it down. If the fans can’t turn as fast as they need to, they can’t power the computer as fast; therefore making it slower over all. Gently dust inside your computer and the fans (obviously have your computer unplugged for this) and make sure that you’re doing this once every few months to ensure that it’s running as fast as it can be. Be careful with the components inside too!

Let professionals perform upgrades

It’s always a good idea to upgrade certain parts of your pc rather than buying a completely new one. Many computers these days have removable graphics cards and many other components too, so why not upgrade every once in a while to keep it running as it should? Check out this website that specializes in computer and technology repairs. It’s always a good idea to let the professionals carry out repairs and upgrades so that you can be sure that you’re not going to accidentally break your computer.

Keep drivers updated

Another main reason for your computer running slow might be because your programms and software isn’t up to date. Most applications and installs will alert you when there is a new update available, so make sure that you’re letting them update so that they can run faster for your pc. If you’ve got a graphics card like Nvidia, you will usually get a notification from that too when an upgrade is available, so keep an eye out every time you log on to your computer.

Have security on your computer

Finally, there are millions of viruses all over the internet that can be very harmful to your computer. Make sure that you’ve got an active anti virus on your computer so that you don’t put your computer at risk from attack. You can download free versions of antiviruses which work just as well against viruses and trojans.

Use this advice to make your PC last longer and your gaming experience even better than you’d imagined!

Hosting An Adult And Epic Games Night To Remember

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The World Cup is two days away. Whereas the jocks will be jumping with joy, we are less enthused. It’s soccer for God sake. It’s not even an American sport! One thing everyone has to admit though is that the WC is great for parties. Spain and Portugal are playing on Friday afternoon? Great, let’s all drink and watch the game. Those of us who aren’t soccer-mad don’t get the same privilege.

Still, it isn’t like we can’t throw a party, one that doesn’t involve soccer. And, it is going to be adult-themed and epic at the same time. Here’s what you need to know.

The Games

What to bring, what to bring. In short, it depends on the crowd. If there are sporty people there who prefer to sit and chill then exercise, then FIFA may be on the cards. But, if the audience is more traditional game orientated, then Halo and GTA and RDR never fail to impress. As a rule, mix it up so that there is a wide variety to keep you going throughout the night. And, make sure they are all interactive and involve more than one player. Otherwise, it gets boring sitting there watching other people play.

The Food

Gaming custom dictates that the host has to provide the grub. You’re not 12 years old any longer so forget about the strawberry laces and licorice candy treats. Instead, think like a party-planner and buy snacks that are mature and elegant. Yep, it sounds like a reach but it is possible! Https://ww.redbookmag.com has a range of 35 easy recipes if anyone needs inspiration. You probably won’t though as long as you stick to the classics. Finger food always goes down a treat, which is why sandwiches are the staple of any party. Of course, chip and dip are about the only appetizers that challenge its popularity.

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The Seating

This is where it gets complicated because there are rules and regulations. Everyone wants to sit down, but the gamers need the best seats. Being comfortable while playing is a must. But, any chair won’t suffice. The trick is to use the gaming seat you have as the focal point. To go the extra mile, you can buy another one off of https://goturback.uk/noblechairs-epic-series-review/. Then, use the rest of the furniture to make sure the rest of your guests are comfy and relaxed. Don’t worry about not having a seat for everyone because people stand up and socialize.

The Drinks

We all want to have a good time at a gaming party. There is an issue, however: performance. If you and your friends are competitive, the idea of getting wasted might not appeal. After all, some guest will want to be at their best so that they can win. Still, it isn’t a party without booze so you should buy a selection of drinks. Beers and wine will keep the majority of people happy, while soft drinks should suffice for the players.

Now for the big question – do you think anyone will forget your game night?

Book Review: Privacy & How to Get it Back

A recent book I read, Privacy: And How to Get it Back, from a recent podcast guest, BJ Mendelson, really got me thinking about a big topic right now in society; digital privacy.

The big takeaway for me from Privacy was that it isn't so much that the tools themselves are inherently bad, it's how the companies who made them use them and sell our data as well as what individuals put on these platforms without knowing what is done with this information.

I think BJ's book serves as a great counterpoint to my other book review, Winning with Data. There are ways to responsibly use data to make life better for people, but profiting off of social media posts and this community that exists on your platforms isn't really doing many people much good. And there are other models that could be made to allow these companies to make money without selling your data, or at least compensate you for your valuable data (which BJ recommends).

We create many of our own problems in the world, but we can also create solutions as well. These amazing tools we've made need to used responsibly by all involved. Many of these digital companies (whether they be Amazon, Facebook, Google, etc.) have a duty to do right by us, their users. But often they're working within the lax regulations put upon them. If we put proper rules in place, then they will work within them, as we're seeing with the GDPR rollout. I think digital privacy is a right, and these companies shouldn't be obfuscating the way to control how our data is shared.

I'm hopeful that as these digital tools as becoming more ubiquitous, we will update our laws and make sure to keep these companies that make them in check. It is also on the individual to feel empowered and informed to manage their data in whatever ways they feel most comfortable with. Maybe that means being more conservative, or it means sharing it widely, or only with certain platforms. Also, in my world, as higher ed becomes more digitized as well, we need to more conscious of how we're securing this information, which at times can be very sensitive.

I hope this gets you thinking like it did for me. It's something we can take for granted but the right to privacy is fundamental. We just need to learn how to navigate this issue in the digital space, but I'm confident we all can.

Reasons Grown Ups Should Play Games More

Gaming has often been as a past-time of teenagers or older children. Sometimes for adults is can be seen as a bit of a guilty pleasure and not something that we want to own up to. They are the recreational equivalent of consuming empty calories, or so it can be seen. But in reality, there are many benefits to gaming, and adults need to do it more, if they’re not already.

Video game design is getting better and better, and they can almost be movie-like in the stories that they tell. So as long as you’re able to control and limit the time that you’re on it, much like the livedealer.org site, then a little isn’t going to hurt. Here are some of the reasons why gaming could be good for you.

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Economical

Like you might do with an item of clothing, the price per use of games is pretty high. There is an upfront cost, similar to that of a concert ticket or a couple of movie theater tickets. But the game goes on and on, for as long as you want it to last. Even if it is a game that you can do until completion, you can do it again and again if you’d like. So the value for money with gaming is low, as far as a recreational activity goes.

Social

Back in the day gaming was seen as quite an isolated activity, with images of loners sitting alone in the dark playing games. But in fact, these days, it is a pretty social activity. Most games have a multiplayer function, so you can invite people round or have other family members join in the fun. There are even games like guitarhero.com that allow you to be a little more active, and interact with others. Those kinds of games are only going to be fun with other people around.

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The Future of Technology

The gaming industry is always changing, and it can give us an insight into technology and what is changing. If you’re a gamer, you’ll see just how much of an impact virtual reality is having on us, and you can look at the possible opportunities for using that in everyday life. Even games that are traditionally seen as games for children, like Minecraft, are being used in testing for AI Bots. The future of banking and retail could be going along the lines of chatbots, so gaming offers insight into those kinds of thing.

Escapism

After work or college, when your mind has been so focused on certain things, it can be nice to come home at the end of the day and relax. Gaming, like movies or television shows, can offer an element of escapism. It can be a way for some people to relax, while still using your brain in a different way. When you combine gaming as a hobby, alongside reading, exercise, and other things, it is important to remember that it is OK to play from time to time.

How To Secure Concert Tickets, Every Time

‘Sold out’. Two words you never want to face when you’re trying to get tickets to see your favorite artist! Failing to get tickets to something you really want to go to is beyond disappointing, but fortunately for you, that doesn’t have to be the case.

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With some handy tips, you can beat the system to make sure you get your dream tickets. Take a look at how to secure concert tickets, every time.

Find out all the details

To make sure you’re prepared, you need to note down all of the key details. What date and time do they go on sale? How much will it cost? Which websites can you buy from? Make sure you know all of the answers and put some reminders in your calendar to stop you from accidentally missing the sale. Giglist is a good website to find out about the latest ticket sales, while Ticketmaster and Live Nation also send out regular mailers about concert announcements.

Keep an eye out for pre-sale

Pre-sale tickets can be much easier to get, so try to find out if there’s one happening in the days leading up to the main sale. Check out the artist’s website for fan club sales and sign up where possible. If you try to get tickets this way and fail, at least you’ll have the main sale to fall back on.

Create accounts in advance

If you don’t already have accounts with ticket vendors, create them in advance. This will save you a lot of time on the day and means you can log in before the sale starts so that all of your details are there. It will only take you a few minutes, but it will save you time and stress when trying to secure your tickets.

Get multiple devices at the ready

You’ll stand a better chance of securing tickets if you try on more than one device. Aside from your computer, try using a tablet and a phone to help you try for tickets. Apps are still relatively underused for buying tickets, so you could stand a better chance of getting to the front of the queue this way. Get everything set up around 15 minutes before the tickets go on sale to avoid last minute stresses.

Take advantage of auto refresh

Auto refresh tools can help you to get to the ‘Buy’ stage of the sale, but you need to be sensible with it. You can get an auto refresh extension for Chrome, which you should set to refresh every 10-15 seconds while you’re waiting for the tickets to come on sale. Keep an eye on the page, and as soon as you’re in - turn it off so that you don’t lose your tickets when it comes to the payment stage. Don’t hit refresh if you’re placed in a queue, as this will mean that you lose your place!

Bypass the CAPTCHA

Did you know that you can bypass the CAPTCHA codes at the checkout stage? This can save you a lot of time and hassle so that you don’t miss out on your tickets through not being able to identify all of the vehicles in an image on time!

Have payment details ready

Once you’re in the ‘Buy’ stage of the process, you’ll be given a bit of breathing space to finish the transaction. However, in some cases this might only be up to five minutes, so you need to check out as soon as possible. If your card details aren’t already stored in your account, have everything ready to make the payment simple and straightforward.

Check back later

If despite your efforts, there are no more tickets left, it might not be game over. Plenty of people abandon their baskets while some sellers will stagger the ticket allocations. Check back after half an hour and an hour to see if there are more tickets available - many people will have already given up so you’ll have fewer people to compete with.

Choose the resale option

If you’re unable to secure tickets at the time, there’s always the resale option. Resellers are focusing on creating safe, secure websites that guarantee your tickets and provide a better alternative to shady sellers. TicketOffices reviews put the site as one of the best, with tickets secured and validated and delivered in time for the gig. Always check out reviews before you buy resale tickets to make sure you’re not getting ripped off!

Now that you know how to master ticket sales, you can be the king or queen of concerts. Bookmark this page ready for the next gig announcement to make sure you’ve got all the help you need right in front of you. With all of your ticket successes you’re going to need some extra income for gigs, so check out this guide to earning some extra income online.

Share your ticketing tips with friends so that you can all try together - it’s much easier to get the tickets you want with a trick or two up your sleeve!