Introduction

In today’s digital world, having an online presence is essential. However, managing and securing a website can be a challenging task for businesses. It’s not just about having a nice design or relevant content. You also need to protect your website from cyber-attacks, data breaches, and technical issues that might lead to the loss of essential information. That’s where Codeguard comes in – a reliable and affordable solution offered by GWS Technologies.

In this blog article, we will discuss the importance of website security and the features that make Codeguard an excellent tool for website owners.

Why is Website Security Crucial?

The security of your website is paramount for various reasons:

1. Protection from data breaches: Hackers are constantly trying to gain unauthorized access to websites to steal sensitive information such as customer data, financial details, and login credentials. Such data breaches can lead to financial losses and loss of customer trust.
2. Compliance with regulations: Many industries require businesses to adhere to certain security protocols and ensure the protection of sensitive data. Failure to comply with these regulations can result in steep penalties and legal consequences.
3. Maintaining the reputation of your business: A secured website ensures that the trust of your visitors and customers remains intact. A single successful hacking attempt or data breach could cause irreparable long-term damage to your brand.

Introducing Codeguard

Codeguard is a leading cloud-based website backup and monitoring service, offering an excellent security solution to website owners. With Codeguard, provided by GWS Technologies, businesses can protect their website data and ensure business continuity with ease. Let’s take a look at the essential features offered by Codeguard.

1. Daily Automated Backups: Codeguard performs automatic daily backups of your website, ensuring that your data is always protected, even if your site gets hacked or becomes inaccessible due to a server outage. These backups can be easily restored with just a few clicks.
2. Change Monitoring: Codeguard’s change monitoring feature allows you to track any modifications made to your website by comparing previous versions of your site. You will be alerted of any unauthorized changes, enabling you to take immediate action to prevent any potential security threats.
3. One-Click Restore: If your website falls victim to cyber-attacks or data breaches, you can quickly restore it to a previous version, preventing data loss or prolonged downtime. With Codeguard, you get multiple restore options to choose from, which ensures that your website is up and running in no time.
4. Email Backup: Codeguard even backs up your email accounts so that you don’t lose vital email communications. Any emails and account information are securely encrypted and stored.
5. Malware Monitoring: Codeguard continuously scans your website for malware, notifying you of any potential threats. This early detection system helps website owners tackle security issues before any damage is done.

Choose Codeguard for Complete Website Security

With its wide range of features, Codeguard is the ideal choice for businesses looking to secure their online presence. It provides peace of mind, knowing that your website and its data are safe and sound. GWS Technologies is proud to offer the benefits of Codeguard to our valued customers at an affordable price.

Learn more about Codeguard and start protecting your website today by visiting: https://portal.gws-technologies.com/store/codeguard

Keep Your Website Up and Running with Real-Time Alerts and In-Depth Performance Analysis

Introduction

We live in an era where a website is the heart and soul of any business, and website downtime or poor performance not only affects revenue but also reputation. GWS Technologies understands the need for a comprehensive monitoring solution and is proud to introduce the new 360 Monitoring service – an all-in-one package for website monitoring and optimization. Now you can get instant alerts and in-depth insight into your website’s performance and security from a single platform.

In this blog post, we’ll introduce you to the 360 Monitoring service and highlight its key features that cater to every aspect of website performance and security.

1. Downtime Monitoring: Never Miss a Beat

A website going down can lead to loss of potential customers, tarnishing your brand and affecting revenue. Our Downtime Monitoring feature keeps an eagle eye on your website’s uptime and alerts you immediately if it goes offline. Stay ahead of any issue and solve it before it escalates, ensuring uninterrupted and smooth user experience.

2. Performance Monitoring: Speed Matters

Did you know that slow website loading times can lead to higher bounce rates and poor SEO ranking? GWS Technologies’ Performance Monitoring helps you identify performance bottlenecks, so you can make the necessary improvements. Optimize your website’s speed, keep your users engaged and ensure higher search engine rankings with our advanced performance analysis tools.

3. Geo Monitoring: Location-Based Insights

Understanding location-specific issues is vital for businesses targeting global audiences. Geo Monitoring provides you with valuable information about regional website performance. Identify problems and optimize your site for different regions, ensuring that your users get the best experience, no matter where they access your website from.

4. Keyword Monitoring: Stay on Top of Your Content

Managing the content on your website is crucial for SEO and user engagement. Our Keyword Monitoring feature allows you to track specific words and phrases on your site, such as “error” or “stock out,” and set up alerts based on their presence or absence. Stay informed about your content and make strategic decisions to improve your website’s rankings and user experience.

5. Port Monitoring: Network Connectivity and Firewall Checks

A responsive website requires optimal network connectivity and security. With Port Monitoring, you can check HTTP/S for web traffic responsiveness, TCP for network connectivity issues, and ICMP (ping) for server availability. Identify and solve any network issues or firewall blockages for a seamless user experience and robust data security.

6. SSL Monitoring: Secure Your Website Visits

SSL/TLS certificates are crucial to ensure the security of your users’ data and build their trust in your website. Our SSL Monitoring feature sends you alerts about SSL/TLS certificate expirations, allowing you to renew them on time and ensure uninterrupted secure access for your visitors.

Conclusion

GWS Technologies’ 360 Monitoring service is your one-stop solution for website performance and security. With our comprehensive range of features, you can stay on top of your website’s health, identify potential issues, and optimize it for the best user experience and search engine rankings. Don’t leave your website’s success to chance – sign up for our 360 Monitoring service today and give your business the online presence it deserves.

To learn more about the 360 Monitoring service and sign up, visit https://portal.gws-technologies.com/store/360monitoring.

WRITTEN BY ITHEMES EDITORIAL TEAM ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2022

Last Updated on February 25, 2023

The easiest and most secure way to log in to your WordPress site is here! iThemes Security Pro just added biometric logins (like Face ID, Touch ID, and Windows Hello) and passkey technology supported by all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari, to use with your WordPress login. Now website admins and end users can have secure logins without the inconvenience of additional two-factor apps, password managers, or complex password requirements.

Powered by the WebAuthn protocol, these login methods provide an innovative passwordless login experience that is the future for securing sensitive information online, including logging in to any WordPress site. As the future of logins for all sites and apps, iThemes Security is the first to bring it to WordPress as the primary login method.

So let’s take a closer look at how passkeys work in iThemes Security Pro.

To take advantage of this update, you’ll need to be running PHP version 7.3+ and iThemes Security Pro (v 7.2). Current iThemes Security Pro, Essentials Bundle, Plugin Suite, and Toolkit customers will find the 7.2 version update available now as an automatic update from the WordPress dashboard (for licensed sites) or as a manual download from the iThemes Member Panel. Save time updating all your sites at once from the iThemes Sync dashboard.

Get iThemes Security Pro

What are Passkeys?

Introducing passkeys, the easiest and most secure way to log in to your WordPress site. With Passkeys, you get the most secure login technology available today without the inconvenience of two-factor apps, password managers, or complex password requirements.Introducing passkeys, the easiest and most secure way to log in to your WordPress site. With Passkeys, you get the most secure login technology available today without the inconvenience of two-factor apps, password managers, or complex password requirements.

Passkeys provide an innovative passwordless login experience that is the future of logins for all sites and apps. And iThemes Security Pro is the first WordPress security plugin to bring it to WordPress as the primary login method.

Powered by the WebAuthn standard, passkeys include biometric login methods (like Apple’s Face ID, Touch ID, or Windows Hello), and are supported by all major browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, and Safari. Major tech companies like Google, Apple, and Microsoft all back the WebAuthn standard to make passkeys the future of secure logins across the web.

Why Use Passkeys? 5 Reasons

You may be wondering why you should consider using passkeys instead of strong passwords or even two-factor authentication. Let’s dive into why passkeys are a superior user security method.

1. Passkeys Solve the Problem of Stolen or Leaked Passwords

For starters, passkeys solve the problem of stolen or leaked passwords. The reality is that 81% of all hacking-related breaches leverage passwords that have been compromised. Passkeys make it virtually impossible to have your password leaked or stolen because your passwords aren’t stored on a server that can be compromised.Passkeys make it virtually impossible to have your password leaked or stolen because your passwords aren’t stored on a server that can be compromised.

In addition, your personal data doesn’t leave your device. The site you’re logging into doesn’t get a copy of your fingerprint or face. Instead, a secure credential called a private-public keypair is created to form a strong authentication method that’s virtually impossible to hack.

2. Passkeys Protect You (And Your Site’s Users) From Phishing Attempts

Second, passkeys protect you from phishing. Hackers often use very sophisticated techniques to to try to trick you into giving away your password, like building convincing emails and websites to impersonate real services you use. Passkeys are phishing-resistant since built-in authentication methods won’t let you be tricked into giving away your password.

3. Passkeys are Simply Easy to Use

Third, passkeys are simply easy to use. We all know how extra security measures usually mean inconvenience. Using strong passwords, two-factor apps, or verification emails causes friction when logging in. Passkeys allow you to quickly log in with one click using your face or your fingerprint, instead of having to deal with long passwords, extra emails, or two-factor codes.

4. Passkeys Make Mobile Logins Easy

Use your passkey to login with Face ID, Touch ID, or Windows Hello from your mobile device. You’re likely already using this technology for many other apps and sites. With iThemes Security Pro, now you can use these to login to WordPress!

You’ll also be able to offer this login method to your users, removing friction and improving their security experience. With your mobile device, you can use:

• Face ID
• Touch ID
• Windows Hello

5. Passkeys Provide the Most Secure Login Method Available for WordPress

Finally, passkeys are the best way to provide the most secure login method available for your WordPress site. Both website admins and end users, like customers, can start using passkeys to log in to any WordPress site running iThemes Security Pro.

How Do Passkeys Work with WordPress Logins?

With no passwords, no two-factor codes, and no emails, now you can log in to your WordPress site with one click.

Here are a few quick demo videos of how passkeys look when logging in:

From Your Desktop

Here’s a look at how easy it is to log in with passkeys from your desktop.

From Your iPhone

Passkeys make mobile logins a breeze by using your device’s built-in authentication technology, including Face ID and Touch ID.

Simply log in using your passkey to activate your mobile device’s Face ID or Touch ID, and iThemes Security Pro will log you into WordPress in a matter of seconds.

No more using a password, pulling open a separate email for a confirmation code, or opening a separate two-factor app.

From Your Yubikey or Android Device

Finally, you can even use passkeys to securely register your mobile device or even your Yubikey to log in to WordPress from your desktop. It’s that easy.

Getting Started with Passkeys in iThemes Security Pro

To get started with passkeys in iThemes Security Pro, you’ll need the following:

• iThemes Security Pro (v 7.2)
• PHP 7.3+
• If you are on a Mac, please ensure your computer has either Apple Silicon or the T1/T2 chip. For more information on Mac devices, please click here.  

To set up Passkeys on your site, you will need to enable the feature on the Security > Settings > Features > Login Security screen.

Next, you will navigate to the Security > Settings > Configure > Login Security > Passwordless Login screen. Click the Passkeys checkbox so it is marked with a checkmark and then click the “Save” button. 

Once you have enabled Passkeys, you can go to your WordPress Admin Menu > Users > Profile. Scroll down to Passwordless Login, enable the passwordless login feature for the user, and click the “Setup Passkeys” button. 

Using Multi-Platform / Browser / QR Code

What if you want to log in to your WordPress site using a passkey but you are using a computer you don’t own or that you aren’t logged into iCloud with? You can log into the site using the QR code method and your registered mobile device. This feature uses the passkey saved to your device / iCloud to allow you to gain access on from any device.

On the device you are logging into, look for the iPhone / Android device option. Select it and click the “Continue” button.

Then, point your camera at the QR code that’s displayed, and click the option to use your passkey.

This will set up a mechanism for the computer and your mobile device to securely communicate with each other. After approving the login on your phone, you’ll be signed in automatically on your desktop. The desktop computer does not get its own passkey. Your passkey stays on the device that you used to authenticate. If you are using a new windows computer that you purchased, you would probably want to register a new passkey for that device after signing in for the first time via your iPhone.

More Instructions for Setting Up Passkeys

We have comprehensive documentation available over in the iThemes Help Desk for:

• iThemes Security Passkeys Onboarding
• Using Passkeys on Mac Computer
  • Roaming Authenticators (like Yubikey or Titan Keys)
  • Platform Authenticators (like iCloud and Google Chrome)
• Using Passkeys on Windows Computer
• Using Passkeys on Mobile Devices

Included in our support plans

iThemes Security Pro is included in our wordpress website licenses and security plans, along with dozens of other productivity, performance and security solutions !

Contact Us at https://www.gws-technologies.com/contact-us/ to get a free consultation or for more information!

Introduction

At GWS, we take pride in providing our customers with the latest technology and infrastructure for their websites. We understand the importance of staying ahead of the curve, especially when it comes to website performance, security, and overall efficiency. That’s why we’re excited to announce that PHP 8.2 is now available on our Managed WordPress hosting with KINSTA. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the benefits of PHP 8.2, how to upgrade, and why it’s essential for your WordPress site’s success.

What is PHP 8.2 and Why Should You Care?

PHP 8.2 is the latest iteration of the popular scripting language used by millions of websites globally, including WordPress. This new version comes packed with numerous performance improvements, security enhancements, and new features that can dramatically improve your website’s speed and overall efficiency.

Here are some of the key benefits of upgrading to PHP 8.2:

1. Improved Performance

PHP 8.2 boasts significant performance enhancements compared to previous versions. This means that your WordPress site can load faster, providing a better user experience for your visitors. Faster load times also contribute to improved SEO, as search engines like Google prioritize websites that perform well.

2. Enhanced Security

Security is always a top priority when it comes to your website. PHP 8.2 brings increased protection against vulnerabilities, ensuring your site stays safe and secure. By updating to the latest version, you can stay ahead of potential threats and keep your data protected.

3. New and Exciting Features

PHP 8.2 introduces several new language features and improvements that can help streamline your codebase and provide a better development experience. Some notable additions include:

• Enumerations: A new way to define a set of named values, making your code more expressive and less error-prone.
• Readonly Properties: Allows you to create properties that can only be set once, improving immutability and reducing potential bugs.
• Improved Pattern Matching: The new “match” expression simplifies complex conditional structures and makes your code more readable.

How to Upgrade to PHP 8.2 on GWS Managed WordPress Hosting with KINSTA

Upgrading to PHP 8.2 with GWS and KINSTA is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to give your WordPress site the performance boost it deserves:

1. Log in to your KINSTA dashboard.
2. Navigate to your site’s “Tools” page.
3. Under the “PHP Engine” section, select “PHP 8.2” from the dropdown menu.
4. Click on “Change PHP version” to apply the changes.

Before upgrading, we recommend thoroughly testing your website with PHP 8.2 on a staging environment to ensure compatibility with your themes and plugins. If you need assistance or have any questions, our support team is always here to help.

Conclusion

At GWS, we’re committed to keeping our infrastructure up to date, secure, and performant. By offering PHP 8.2 on our Managed WordPress hosting with KINSTA, we empower our customers to take full advantage of the latest technology that can help them succeed online. Don’t wait any longer – upgrade to PHP 8.2 today and supercharge your WordPress site!

Get in touch with us now to upgrade your wordpress experience to PHP 8.2 and stay at the top of your game ! >> https://www.gws-technologies.com/contact-us/

Introduction

At GWS Technologies, we’re always striving to provide our clients with the best solutions for their web hosting needs. That’s why we’re thrilled to announce our partnership with KINSTA, an industry leader in managed WordPress hosting. With KINSTA’s green hosting initiatives and GWS Technologies’ exclusive benefits, you can enjoy fast, secure, and eco-friendly web hosting without compromise.

KINSTA’s Green Hosting Initiatives: A Commitment to Sustainability

KINSTA has been making steady progress in reducing its environmental impact by utilizing Google Cloud and Cloudflare for its hosting infrastructure. Both Google Cloud and Cloudflare are committed to operating on 100% renewable energy, ensuring that your website’s hosting is powered by clean and sustainable energy sources. By choosing KINSTA and GWS Technologies, you’re not only investing in high-performance hosting services but also supporting a greener planet.

Google Cloud is well-known for its commitment to environmental sustainability, with a global fleet of data centers that are among the most energy-efficient in the world. Their advanced cooling techniques and machine learning algorithms help to optimize energy usage, resulting in significant reductions in their carbon footprint. By using Google Cloud, KINSTA is able to minimize its environmental impact and contribute to a more sustainable future.

Similarly, Cloudflare, a leading internet performance and security company, has made a commitment to reduce its carbon emissions by powering its global network with renewable energy. With initiatives like Project Galileo and the 1.1.1.1 DNS resolver, Cloudflare is dedicated to providing fast, secure web hosting while simultaneously reducing its environmental impact. KINSTA’s collaboration with Cloudflare is yet another example of their dedication to eco-friendly hosting practices.

To learn more about KINSTA’s green hosting initiatives, visit their in-depth article at https://kinsta.com/green-hosting/.

Exclusive Benefits for GWS Customers

As an agency partner of KINSTA, GWS Technologies is able to offer our clients a range of exclusive benefits that are not available when purchasing hosting plans directly from KINSTA. When you choose GWS Technologies for your hosting needs, you’ll enjoy:

1. More CDN bandwidth: Our partnership allows us to provide our clients with increased CDN bandwidth, ensuring faster loading times and better overall performance for your website.
2. More PHP Workers: While KINSTA offers between 2 and 14 PHP Workers, GWS Technologies provides 16 PHP workers even on our most affordable plans. This means better performance for your website at the same price, allowing your site to handle more simultaneous requests and prevent slowdowns during peak traffic periods.
3. Local 5-Star Support: Our clients have access to our 5-star support team, as rated on Trustpilot, in addition to the 24/7 support provided by KINSTA. With GWS Technologies, you’ll never be left in the dark when it comes to your website’s hosting needs. Our local support team is always ready to assist you with any questions or concerns, ensuring a seamless hosting experience.

Discover Our Hosting Plans

At GWS Technologies, we offer a range of hosting plans to suit businesses of all sizes. Our plans are designed to provide the best performance, security, and support, all while minimizing our environmental impact. You can learn more about our hosting plans and exclusive benefits by visiting https://managed-wordpress-hosting.gws-technologies.com/.

Conclusion

By choosing GWS Technologies for your web hosting needs, not only are you supporting a greener planet through KINSTA’s green hosting initiatives, but you’re also receiving exclusive benefits that enhance your website’s performance and security. With our 5-star support team and KINSTA’s 24/7 assistance, you can rest assured that your website is in good hands. Go green and boost your website’s performance with GWS Technologies and KINSTA today.

You probably have heard that strong passwords are important for your online security. The internet is full of hacks and vulnerabilities that you need to be aware of if you want your data secure. This includes passwords, forms on websites, email and social media accounts. You need to make sure that your passwords are protected and not easily hacked!

In this blog, I will show you how to create a two-factor authentication solution for your login. This solution helps you prevent unauthorized access to your accounts on the internet by using a password and a one-time password that is especially generated dynamically for connection. This keeps hackers from using brute force attacks on account to gain unauthorized access.

What is TWO STEP AUTHENTICATOR or 2FA : 

You might have heard of this new way to authenticate your account or content on popular social media platforms, including Facebook, Google+, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. This is called “2-Factor Authentication” or 2FA. 2FA solutions make it easier to protect yourself against hackers and scammers while offering a more secure login experience.

Two-factor authentication solutions are gaining popularity in the internet world. These solutions use two or more factors to authenticate your identity. The most popular of these is Google Authenticator but there are many other solutions that can be used to authenticate your identity. The key to the authentication process is a secret PIN that you need to input on each device you use to log into your account. . A two-factor authentication solution can be used if you need an extra layer of security for example if you’re using a sensible account with admin access or to login at your bank website.

How to set up this solution ? : 

1. Download the 2FA application. 

• Google Authenticator
• Microsoft Authenticator
• Authy
• Step TWO

2. Select 2FA into the setting of your account ( often security )
3. The website give to you a Key or a QR code to enter in your software 
4. Synchronize after entering the key

How to login with 2FA ? :

You log in as usual, just one more step is added to ask for the authenticator code. You then go on your application to recover this one and to reach your data.

Why add a 2FA to your website? 

There are numerous reasons why you would want to add a 2FA to your website. The most obvious reason is that it’s a way of securing your personal data. But there are also numerous other benefits for you, the user. 2FA means that the server you are connecting to uses two different pieces of information to verify the authenticity of your identity. You can use a simple one-time password or have multiple passwords on your site.

Therefore, you should consider adding a 2FA system to your website if you have not already done so. Below are some reasons why you should consider adding one to your website:

• To provide more security for your personal info and data
• To ensure better user privacy
• To reinforce good security practices
• To protect yourself from possible fraud attempts
• To enhance search engine optimization (SEO) rankings
• To protect your business from hackers or malicious

If you want to implement this solution, GWS Technologies LTD. has the required skills and promotes greater website security.
Contact us to discuss it! https://www.gws-technologies.com/contact-us/.

Intercom is a solution multi-platform to exchange with your customers in a secure, private and efficient way. It allows you to talk to your customers without having to be physically in the same place. It’s not only for online stores; you can use it for physical stores as well. It’s ideal for businesses that have multiple locations and need to manage multiple accounts, or those who must have their customers sign on before they can do business with them.
You can also make your own customer messages available in a custom interface. The Intercom is easy to install and setup, so you can get started right away. This product is a plus for a good digital transition of your business

Here is a video that summarizes the activities of our partner :

A unified engagement experience across the customer journey :
• Convert:  Convert more website visitors into customers with targeted messages, bots, and real-time chat.
• Engage:  Onboard, activate, and re-engage customers with targeted outbound messages, product tours, and email campaigns.
• Support : Provide high-quality, personalized help at any scale by layering human, self-serve, and proactive support.”

Convert: 

• Turn visitors into leads and customers
• Increase conversions with real-time personal engagement
• Automatically capture leads, and then qualify, route, and schedule meetings with the right sales representative

Engage: 

• Increase product engagement and activation
• Re-engage inactive users
• Announce and cross-sell new features and products
• Onboard new users

Support: 

• Proactively support and deflect inbound inquiries
• Automate resolution workflows
• Improve first-contact resolution

How does intercom implement its solution ?
Intercom is a modern communications platform that can transform the way everyone in your organization engages with customers.
Unlike traditional phone systems, Intercom gives employees the freedom and flexibility of working from wherever they want, on any device, making communication more streamlined, personal and productive. Employees can choose the best way to communicate, whether that’s over phone, video, email or text message. If someone is unavailable, they can leave a message which can be responded to at their leisure. Once you’ve added your employees, they’re automated into the workflow so communications are simplified and seamless. Plus, our intelligent interface helps your team focus on the conversations that really matter and take action on customer interactions, whilst our mobile app means that team members can collaborate from anywhere, at any time. With Intercom, you can even customize workflows and integrate with third-party systems like G Suite or Salesforce, so your business can evolve and improve over time.

What are the benefits of using Intercom ?

•  The most powerful and engaging in-context messaging solution 
  • On your site, in product, in-app, web, or mobile
  • Seamlessly omnichannel
  • Both inbound and outbound
• Ability to collect and leverage first-party data drives unparalleled personalization
  • Live first-party data, rich context
  • Dynamic content and sending
• Unified platform for all customer-facing teams to use together
  • Unified customer record
  • Unified workflows
  • Enterprise scale and security
  • Enterprise scale and security
• Next-generation product approach to technology and user experience
  • Intelligent automation through AI and ML
  • No-code flexibility 
  • Seamlessly integrates with existing stack

If you want to test this solution, or would like to set up an appointment contact us at
https://www.gws-technologies.com/contact-us/.
We propose to be your direct support ! 

SEO is a very important aspect of the web marketing process. Whether you’re a business owner, an SEO agency, or a freelancer who wants to make money online, SEO is not just about finding the right keywords to rank your website on search engines. It’s also about getting visitors to your website and converting them into sales. Without SEO, your content won’t be seen by visitors who don’t have a need for it, and they won’t be able to find you on their own.

Search engine advertisements, also known as SEA or Pay per Click (PPC) ads, provide another way for online businesses to obtain visibility in search engines. SEA is used to generate traffic to websites and increase awareness of products and services. A simple Google search for “TV marketing” reveals sponsored links on the first page of the results page. These sponsored links indicate, in big red letters, that the companies are paying to be on that first page.

What Is Search Engine Optimization? : 
Search engine optimization, or SEO, is the process of making your website more visible to a search engine. The goal of the optimization process is to influence online users when they search for terms related to your business. For example, if someone were to search for “skin care Chicago,” your company’s website should be among the first search results to show up. Think of search engine optimization as a way to convince search engines to list your site or page higher in rankings.

What Is Search Engine Advertising ? : 
Search engine advertisements, commonly known as SEA, is a paid method of advertising that employs paid search results. The two primary methods of search engine marketing are organic and paid listings, wherein advertisers bid on keywords that consumers enter in search engines. Paid search is conducted through the use of search engines, which deliver the advertiser’s ad to a targeted audience based on search terms or keywords. Search engine marketing has rapidly emerged as one of the most effective and inexpensive forms of online advertising.
According to emarketer, there were an estimated 164.96 billion searches happened in 2018. Of that 164.96 billion, 44.27% were done through mobile devices. In fact, mobile traffic accounted for 67.1% of total US web traffic in 2018. These statistics have further encouraged marketers to take SEM seriously for their ad objectives.

Difference between SEO and SEA :
Search engine optimization (SEO) refers all to the process of affecting the visibility of a website or a web page in a search engine’s unpaid results—often referred to as “natural”, “organic”, or “earned” results. In general, the earlier (or higher ranked on the search results page), and more frequently a site appears in the search results list, the more visitors it will receive from the search engine’s users; these visitors can then be converted into customers. 
Conversely, search engine advertising (SEA) refers to paid, sponsored listings. In contrast to SEO which is largely and mainly targeted to search engines, SEA is used to target internet users. The two are also fundamentally different strategies. In SEA, advertisers bid to have their ads appear on search engines such as Google. The advertiser is then charged whenever a visitor clicks on their ad.

Some statistics about SEO : 

• 93% of online experiences start with a search engine (imForza)
• Leads from search engines have a 14.6% close rate, while outbound leads (ex. cold-calling, direct mail, etc.) have a 1.7% close rate. (Inter-growth)
• Search engines drive 300% more traffic than social networks (IronPaper)
• 63 percent of shopping occasions begin online (Thinkwithgoogle)
• 51% of smartphone users discovered a new business through an Internet search (TechJury)
• Average conversion rate for print: 1.7%, lead conversion rates from SEO can climb to 14.6% (Crazy Egg ) 

Some statistics about SEA : 

• For every $1 that a business spends on Google Search and Ads, the business makes $8 in profit. (AssetDigitalcom)
• Local SEA provides some serious web traffic, leading to online or brick-and-mortar sales. It is known that 49% of companies garner over 1,000 views off their Google My Business listing each month while a full third of businesses receive over 1,000 views on Google Maps.

To complete your understanding of reporting, we offer a comprehensive resource on SEO / SEA and all that it encompasse

The 4 Main Components of SEO : 
To enhance a brand’s search results, it is essential to know and comprehend each of the four primary SEO components. Each element complements and develops upon the others. The more closely each of the four SEO components :

• Technical SEO
• On-page SEO
• Off-page SEO
• Content

The more these elements are connected to each other, the better the results. We will be better able to use them successfully if we are aware of these relationships.

Technical SEO
Technical SEO (also known as on-page SEO) involves work you do on your page to ensure search engines recognise it, index it, and understand it. Typically technical SEO includes:

•  Proper URL structuring
•  Using meta tags and alt texts
•  Specifying your content with headers, paragraphs, and lists
•  Optimizing for speed
•  Encouraging users to share content
•  Constantly improving your content
•  Creating robot.txt
•  Improving your site’s code
•  Indicating structured data
•  Submitting sitemaps
•  Providing a visible canonical link
•  Fetching, parsing, and indexing
•  Redirecting and canonicalisation
•  Cleaning up old invalid links and pages

On-page SEO : 
On-page optimization refers to the actions taken on the pages of your website that show up in the search engine results pages (SERPs). This includes website code, content, images, titles, headers, and links. On-page optimization is strategically important, as it directly affects how search engines interpret your website, crawl it, interpret its content, and rank it.

Off-page SEO : 
Off-page SEO is one of the most important aspects of your website and for your business. It is all the components that Google and other search engines use to determine how your web page ranks. Off-page SEO is made up of several components, such as:

•  Links
•  Social Media
•  Content
•  Landing Pages and conversions
•  Local Search
•  Citations
•  Caching
•  Mobile
•  AMP
•  Schema
•  Keywords
•  Architecture
•  Breadcrumbs
•  Directories

Content :
Content is the lifeline of any website, without content a website is of no use, it is the content which the search engines and your visitors will find useful and this will rank your website. Content should be unique and original.

The benefits of SEA : 
In the modern day scenario, Search Engine Marketing (SEA) has emerged as the most useful and powerful tool for businesses to promote their products and services. The incredible result of search engine ads have made them popular.
From a few simple clicks, the businesses can gain significant market penetration, whether they are small or big in size. It can be defined as a cost-effective, result oriented, and powerful tool to advertise in the market.
Some benefits of SEA are : 

• It drives organic traffic and increases website visibility.
• It helps in increasing revenues.
• Adaptability to change as per search engines.
• Cost effective.
• Time and cost efficiency.

Why choose SEA over SEO :
The advantage of PPC is that once it has been created, it can be live immediately. The content displayed in the SERPs (Search Engine Results Pages) depends on the keywords entered by the user – so a well-written ad. The first results appear much faster because you are put on top of the page while in the context of an SEO strategy, it is necessary to wait until your site is better referenced. This step can take several weeks / months.

How to succeed with your SEA strategy :

• Clearly define your business goals and tailor your paid search activities accordingly.
• Have a clear goal and a plan to achieve it.
• Research your competitors and develop a clear marketing strategy.
• Identify your key performance indicators and review them regularly.
• Choose a trusted partner

How can GWS Technologies LTD. help you? :
GWS Technologies LTD. is the true authority in SEA & digital marketing. We offer all-in-one digital media and digital marketing services. From generating new leads to sales, we can do it all. We are a top-notch agency that has been helping our clients to achieve their goals in the digital world for over 10 years.
We can may be your reference point in terms of SEA strategy, given our position as a Google Premier Partner in 2022. We are able and recognized to deliver SEA strategies directly to Google.
(Google has dominated the search engine market, maintaining a 92.47 percent market share as of June 2021. )

The team of GWS Technologies can bring you its knowledge and its skills in referencing on the Internet: We will remain available to answer your requests, do not hesitate to contact us.

 https://www.gws-technologies.com/contact-us/.

© GWS Technologies Ltd 2022. All rights reserved.

Back in January, we moved into a new office, and inherited a whole bunch of stuff from the previous tenant, including a bunch of neon fluorescent lamps making up the office lighting. Wisdom has it, we got quite a great deal, as we didn’t have to invest into much of the stuff that makes moving into a new office so expensive. I mean, we had good false ceilings, lighting, electrical, air con, negotiated new flooring, etc. Or was it ?

My engineering / bootstrapped business founder brain started churning on how to :

1. Spend as little as possible to move in
2. Optimise operational expenses
3. Make everybody happy
4. Be as “green” as possible

So we started to look for :

• The Energy A+ fridge that gave the biggest volume on a reasonable budget with good warranty ( so it would last longer too )
• The TVs that would provide the best value for money, while ensuring we wouldn’t have to buy a new one every time it broke down out of warranty ( and so, no low-cost TV sets with programmed obsolescence in there )
• A whole bunch of other stuff that would make the staff happy ( you know, it’s quite impossible, and dreadful, to measure the cost of unhappiness )

And so, we set out on a mission, and we bought ourselves 2 SONY KD-65X8000H (ENERGY LEVEL RATING A) from our partners at ICONIC.mu ( for whom we built the website, we love returning favours ). You know, these are the entry-level SONY TVs with Apple AirPlay built-in ( most our staff are on MACBOOKS and use iPhones ), meaning :

• No need to buy an Apple TV to connect devices wirelessly ( more cost )
• No need to get accessories for the apple devices to use HDMI
• No Dreadful HDMI cables roaming around the office
• No replacement low-cost TVs every 2-3 years when the old sets burn down after warranty is over

So not the cheapest choice, but the smartest I would say, saving us money in the long-term, and reducing waste when those low-cost devices break down.

We also got a SHARP fridge from galaxy.mu, along with a whole bunch of other Energy Rating A and A+ appliances, that would again save us a whole bunch of rupees over the years in energy consumption and repair / replacement costs. ( we also built and host their website by the way )

We then moved in, and were pretty much happy with ourselves. Until…

There was still something that felt not quite right in my mind. You know the saying, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” ? Well, you remember the bunch of neon fluorescent tubes we inherited ? They were kind of at the back of my mind all that time, and kept popping up when one, then 2, then 3 tubes starting burning on me ( I think we were the 3rd tenant moving into that office, those tubes had done their time ).

So we replaced them as they burnt, but more kept starting to flicker, until one day I’ve had it, and thought of replacing everything. But I don’t do anything before doing a thorough research about all options ( pretty of an overkill you would say for stupid neon tubes ). But I wanted to replace them with LED tubes. So I started to research options.

Turns out, although they look the same, LED tubes and neon tubes don’t work the same at all. Long story short, neon tubes rely on a ballast ( which in itself consumes a lot of power ), and LED tubes rely on a driver. And at first glance, going LED would mean replacing all the 25 fixtures we had, on top of the 100 bulbs, to provide the necessary drivers. At MUR 5,000+ per fixture, that would be MUR 125,000 + the bulbs + labour + creating a whole bunch of waste of stuff that “ain’t broke”, so it didn’t go through my mind.

But then, after some more research, turns out, there were another type of LED tubes that had an internal driver, and would just need rewiring the fixture to make it work. So, for the sake of saving the environment, I talked to my electrician, who turns out to be quite honest about it, and instead of trying to sell me a whole bunch of LED specific fixtures and an expensive transformation project, agreed to work with the type B LED tubes with the internal driver, redo the wiring, and save me a whole lot of money ( and waste, as nobody these days want to get those old neon fixtures ). Total cost of the project ? MUR 10,000 instead of 100,000. A good deal you’d say?

Wait for the best part !

A 34 Watt Fluorescent Tube consumes about 370 kWh for 1 year if left on 24/7

A 16 Watt Equivalent LED Tube consumes about 140 kWh for 1 year if left on 24/7

So that’s a difference of 230 kWh per year ( insignificant you’d say, especially since we work about 12hrs a day only, so 115 kWh per year). But we got 100 of those, so 100×115 = 11,500 kWh saved. Which now starts to get interesting. Given commercial tariff of the CEB is about Rs. 10 per kWh, we just saved ourselves > MUR 100,000 of electricity bills, just by wanting to :

1. Go Green
2. Stop having annoying flickering lights over our head
3. Think smart and think sustainable
4. Have only 1 colour of light ( not a mix of white, yellow, whitish, and whatnot )
5. Not having to replace bulbs every month

And I didn’t even count the savings made by choosing only A / A+ electrical appliances, and aiming to move everyone on Apple M1 energy efficient processors with their Macbooks, thus phasing out all our old power hungry PCs and UPS devices.

So basically, by wanting to be more comfortable in the office, making everyone happier with new toys, and wanting to have a nice audio-visual experience ( we can all relate to that headache at the end of the day, listening to the “trebblious” sound system of that noisy co-worker ) and by wanting to implement as many sustainable solutions as possible, by the time all these investments get amortised, we actually saved ourselves > MUR 500,000 worth of electricity bills over the next 5 years, and I don’t know how much cost of repairing low-cost faulty equipment + Loss of productivity of failing devices waiting for new ones to arrive

Well worth thinking about our planet and our happiness at the same time I would say ! .

Think smart, think Sustainable, it’ll actually save you money

Mauritius-based digital agency GWS Technologies, has achieved 2022 Premier Partner status in the Google Partners program.

GWS Technologies’s team of experts provides programmatic advertising, google display placements and conversion optimised campaigns for our customers in Mauritius and around the world.

Achieving Google Premier Partner Status has been a rich journey for GWS Technologies and its team who have worked on several challenging projects for major international brands like VISA as well as local brands like ILA, BRANDACTIV and several others.

GWS Technologies also offers its expertise as the digital arm of several local advertising agencies, helping them to achieve their objectives and improving their Return on Ad Spend when running campaigns for their clients.

This month, Google recognized the achievements of top-performing digital marketing partners across the globe by awarding Premier Partner status as part of the new Google Partners program.

The Google Partners program has undergone significant changes for 2022, including redefining what it means to be a Premier Partner through new, advanced program requirements and offering new Premier Partner benefits to support growth and success with Google Ads.

“Congratulations to our Premier Partners for being among the top 3% of Google Partners in Mauritius. These companies stand out based on their commitment to developing product expertise, building new client relationships, and helping their current clients grow. We look forward to supporting them as they help their customers succeed online.”

• Davang Shah, Senior Director, Google Ads Marketing

GWS Technologies is part of a select group of Premier Partners in the Google Partners program. This program is designed for advertising agencies and third parties that manage Google Ads accounts on behalf of other brands or businesses. Its mission is to empower companies by providing them with innovative tools, resources, and support to help their clients succeed and grow online.