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There are more reasons than ever to think before you post: in addition to cyber-thievery, hacking and identity theft, a growing number of recruiters and employers check social media to assess potential candidates. In a global survey, however, Microsoft found that only a small percentage of respondents said they actively manage their online reputation, such as editing or deleting information, writes Jacqueline Beauchere, Microsoft Chief Online Safety Officer, in a blog post.

With so much of our interactions and activities taking place online, it is imperative to maintain an understanding of your online reputation. But most of us aren’t aware of the tools available to do this. In fact, according to a 2013 Microsoft survey of online safety habits, respondents from around the world reported that they did not use many of the key technical tools that are available to help them manage their online reputations:

• 19% of respondents edited or deleted info to protect their online reputation.

• 15% used search engines to monitor and manage their personal info online.

• 10% used a service to edit or delete information about themselves online.

• 31% took the time to get the latest info for protecting their reputations online.

Precisely because so many are  lax about monitoring their reputation, the associated problems are widespread: it’s estimated that the worldwide financial and productivity losses in 2013 came in at $1.4 billion, and 16,300 cumulative years required to repair the online damage to personal reputations.

In an effort to educate the public, Microsoft suggests taking charge of your online reputation, by discovering what's on the Internet about you, periodically reevaluating what you find, and taking proactive steps to cultivate an accurate, positive reputation. Of primary importance is keeping sensitive details—all of which could be used to defraud, impersonate, or find you—private, or only sharing very selectively. 

Microsoft also recommends thinking before posting pictures, videos, or comments online, asking yourself if what you’re about to say or share could tarnish your reputation, or be misconstrued. A rule of thumb: don’t post anything you’d only say to or share with a close friend. 

The Internet is a part of our everyday lives, whether we’re connecting with our social circles, applying to a school or a new job, or even looking for a mate. Now more than ever, it’s important to pay attention to what’s online about you and take steps to cultivate a positive persona—both personally and professionally.

To learn more about web hosting, and a wide array of other services and products, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik I.T. on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

The recently-released book by Canadian journalist and editor Michael Harris, The End of Absence: Reclaiming What We've Lost in a World of Constant Connection, goes in-depth about a topic many of us think about on a regular basis: our predilection for staying connected. Whether by social media, email, various apps, or texting, our days are filled—from the moment we wake up until we sleep—with information and communication.

In the book Harris writes, "Every revolution in communication technology -- from papyrus to the printing press to Twitter -- is as much an opportunity to be drawn away from something as it is to be drawn toward something. And yet, as we embrace a technology's gifts, we usually fail to consider what we're giving up in the process. Why would we bother to register the end of solitude, of ignorance, of lack? Why would we care that an absence had disappeared?" And, while the questions are valid ones, how much of the information we gather from our connectedness is valuable, or even useful?

Toward the end of the book, Harris takes a month-long media sabbatical. He doesn’t have any great epiphany, nor does he lament the current state of affairs. Rather, he simply names the thing that’s happening, and puts his own spin on it by calling attention to the generation that understands the Before and After Internet (a birth year of 1985 being the cutoff), and discussing their unique characteristics.

While there may be things we’ve lost in our world of constant connection, there’s also much to be gained. In the end, technology is simply a tool to be utilized to the best of our ability, but how we use it can make all the difference. By spreading information and raising awareness, our connectedness can change the world, or many lives—or even just one life.

At Kinetik I.T. we understand the importance of this “connectedness”.  Most of our clients rely on it to not only do business with their customers, but also to improve the quality of services they provide.  We know the information data era we live in will only grow larger as people become more dependent on the tools used to interact with each other.  Finding the value and usefulness in this technology to positively enhance the world we live in is the only way we want to do business. We strive to do inspiring work for the companies and individuals who entrust their own inspiring work to us.  

To learn more about web hosting, and a wide array of other services and products, visit www.Kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik I.T. on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

As reported on NYT.com earlier this month, “when deciding whether Google should spend millions or even billions of dollars in acquiring a new company, its chief executive, Larry Page, asks whether the acquisition passes the toothbrush test: Is it something you will use once or twice a day, and does it make your life better?”

The author continues to say, “The esoteric criterion shuns traditional measures of valuing a company like earnings, discounted cash flow or even sales. Instead, Mr. Page is looking for usefulness above profitability, and long-term potential over near-term financial gain.”

While most businesses aren’t making decisions on the same scale as Google, the toothbrush test is an important way to gauge making improvements to your company’s own operation—whether it’s adding services to offer clients, or making changes in your I.T. space. It also translates to how you make improvements to your website.

In today’s economy, the website is often the first point of contact for your customer. In the name of cost-effectiveness, many organizations have begun to lease their website, utilizing a proprietary Content Management System (CMS). It may seem a good idea in the moment because the initial cost may be less and the site management is left to someone else.  If the company then doesn't like the hosting, or they want to go somewhere else, they can't take the website with them.

When using a proprietary CMS, the website is developed at a competitive price but the website will not run unless it can reference that specific CMS. Additionally, most proprietary CMS systems will have limitations to design and features that could prevent an online business from growing. Should a company want to move to another vendor, or make changes to the website, but prefer to have someone else do it, their hands are tied—it cannot be done unless the site is completely reinvented, creating more expense.

In the long run, leasing your website doesn’t pass the toothbrush test. Yes, it’s a useful, short-term decision; however, on the flip side, it doesn’t improve a company’s bottom line, instead it creates dependence on an outside vendor that will eventually get in the way of business growth.

Be sure to weigh all the options when considering upgrades to your website. To learn more about web hosting, and a wide array of other services and products, visit www.kinetik-IT.com or follow Kinetik I.T. on Facebook, LinkedIn or Twitter.

In the first years of the Internet, websites offered information in straightforward (if not always attractive) formats, created by men and women with specialized training, often self-taught. Today, nearly anyone can create a web presence—a blog or website, compatible on multiple devices and across various platforms. As a business owner, it’s possible to create a site, but the real question is: will it deliver the results you’re looking for?

While the “build your own website” ads look appealing, with easy-to-fill-out forms and low prices, they may not be the best choice for your business. Choosing a company specializing in professional website building offers many advantages over the drag & drop, fill-in-the-blank, pre-formatted online builders.

Cost

While hiring a company to design your website might cost more money up front, the benefits reaped from a fully functioning, easy-to-use website can be enormous. By using an online site to build your website, you could miss out on different ways and  techniques to create more traffic for your site. This is the expertise you need  that a website company brings to the table.

New Trends

When choosing a website company, you get the expertise and knowledge of a large set of individuals. These experts know what is trending in design and how to create a user-friendly site with calls to action.

Saving Time

Most businesses and individuals do not have the time or in-depth knowledge required to build a truly useful and informative website that sets your company apart from the competition and provides a great user experience for any visitor.

Exact Specifications

Do you have specific design specifications you want incorporated into your new website? Do you have a vision for what your website will look like? If this is the case, an online website builder will be unable to fulfill your website dreams. Only a website company can sit down with you and talk through the wants and needs of your new website and advise on the best way to accomplish this.

When we hear the word trend, it’s often fashion we think of, or social media, as in “What’s trending on Twitter?” Trends, though the layperson is often oblivious to them, also emerge and develop online—on websites, and in mobile design for phones and tablets. Many trends that became prevalent in 2013 can still be seen on a regular basis—which is why, explains thenextweb.com writer Amber Leigh Turner, “they are called trends and not fads, as trends tend to stick around for a few years while fads are only hot for a very short time.”

And already, 2014 has been a great year for new trends in design, with simpler, to-the-point designs. With the rise of smartphones and tablets, mobile devices continue to inspire innovative design. Whether mobile or web, here is a short list of a few of the most popular trends in design so far this year. 

1. 

   Less Text -- Imagery has always been important on the web, and this trend won’t be letting up any time soon. Numerous apps, and some websites, rely almost exclusively on images and icons. This can work perfectly for some, but the trend isn’t ideal across the board. Don’t feel trapped by this trend; if more text is needed to convey your ideas or to make navigation easier for your customers, use it!

2. Minimalist Navigation -- This trend has been welcomed by many smartphone and tablet users, and with the interplay between design for mobile and web design, this trend is guaranteed to continue. The focus here is on scroll-downs, icons, and navigation that contracts when you scroll further down the page.
3. Cards and Tiles -- Look at any newer website, and you will see this trend in all its glory! Cards are like mini, condensed web pages, and commonly include title, a user name, a picture, various icons, and, sometimes, a brief amount of text (think Pinterest, and you’ll get the idea). Cards and tiles can be a great way to display large amounts of information without overwhelming users.
4. Expanding Search Bars -- This is a new trend welcomed by all. Its primary purpose is to save room on the page. Either a semi-hidden or an expanding search bar can be used at the top and toggle it up or down just like a navigation menu. This feature works great in responsive layouts and can be used in more complicated designs.
5. Quick User Registration -- Our world moves too quickly to fill out a long, detailed registration form. If you are looking to capture new visitors, try a two- to four-field registration. This newer trend is seeing a lot of use in all types of websites. Gone are the days of long forms, try this new trend to see a large increase in registrations! 
6. Typography and Monochromatic Design -- With the rise of web fonts, many designers are using a mix-and-match approach to websites. Sometimes bigger is better, and many designers are heading in that direction. Monochromatic design is also on the rise. Using only two colors and the numerous shades of each can make for a cleaner looking site. 

The joy of the web is that there is always something new to see and enjoy. These trends, and numerous others, give designers a new way to engage users and entices visitor interest in a particular site. The use of more than one of these trends can be seen in many sites. Be sure to think about what works best for the content and the user when considering a new trend.