Year: 2020

VPN an Indispensable Tool for Cybersecurity in 2020

ExpressVPN

Secure your connection, protect yourself online, change your IP address, access your favorite content… When it comes to VPN and privacy, it’s more than advisable to switch to a premium service, such as ExpressVPN. A reliable, efficient and constantly on-the-lookout VPN to improve your security and online experience.

The VPN: A Must-Have Tool in 2020

A few reminders to start with. A VPN takes the form of software or an application that is installed on any connected device, be it a Windows, Mac or Linux computer, a smartphone, but also a router. Its principle is simple: it is intended to secure the user’s connection by encrypting it and relocating it to an external server, belonging to the VPN provider.

In concrete terms, once the application or software is installed, ExpressVPN will offer to connect you to a server located in one of the 160 locations proposed. By the time you are connected to a server, the connection between your device and the server will then be fully encrypted. It will be impossible for a hacker, company or institution to know what you are doing, downloading or viewing from the server where you are connected.

ExpressVPN: A Premium and Trusted VPN

ExpressVPN in this capacity is now the best student of VPN suppliers that can be found on the market. And this for several reasons.

High-performance servers, solid throughputs ExpressVPN has more than 3,000 servers in 160 countries around the world. These servers are ExpressVPN’s main strength. Their connection is stable and especially their speeds in download and upload are excellent. Here are some tests carried out by us, from our fiber connection to 950 Mb/s download and 420 Mb/s in upload.

Whether in Europe, America or Asia, ExpressVPN’s downstream rates are always excellent. They not only allow you to quickly load web pages, but also to comfortably download files or play streaming videos in HD or Full HD.

A Reliable, Logless VPN Provider

ExpressVPN doesn’t just provide a quality VPN server service. It also ensures maximum confidentiality of the data that passes through its servers. To ensure this privacy, ExpressVPN has developed its VPN server technology: TrustedServer.

The principle is very simple: ExpressVPN prevents the operating system and applications from writing on the server hard drive. Instead, the server is run entirely in the RAM. Because RAM needs electricity to store data, all information on a server is erased every time it is turned off and turned on, preventing data and potential intruders from persisting on the device.

Bypassing Geoblocking and Censorship

Unlike many of its competitors, ExpressVPN is a supplier that takes care to bypass the main geoblocks set up by web or platform services. This is the case, for example, with Netflix or Disney. American catalogues are easily accessible by bypassing ExpressVPN geoblocking. In addition, its high-performance servers allow you to watch content in very good quality.…

NVIDIA Unveils RTX 3000 GPU Series

It’s been two years since NVIDIA redesigned its range of high-end graphics cards from the GeForce GTX to the RTX with the 2000 card family. Today, we have the new generation of desktop GPU, the RTX 3000 series, starting with the most popular ranges: RTX 3070 and 3080. There is also the RTX 3090, for those whose PC cases and budgets know no limits.

These three maps share the NVIDIA Ampere GPU architecture, which the company says can deliver “up to” twice as much performance and 1.9 times more energy efficiency than the 2000 series at the same levels.

The RTX 3070 has 5,888 CUDA cores with a 1.5 GHz base clock, increasing to 1.73 GHz. It is equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 RAM, requires 220 watts of power from an 8-pin rail and its 2-rail body is 242 mm long. According to NVIDIA, it is 60% faster than the rtX 2070 of the previous generation, for the same price of $500. It will be available in October.

The RTX 3080, NVIDIA’s flagship product, features 8,704 CUDA cores and 10GB of GDDR6 memory with a faster 320-bit memory interface. The card is longer, 285 mm, and requires 320 watts provided by two 8-pin rails. According to NVIDIA, it is twice as powerful as the RTX 2080, sold for $700. It will go on sale on September 17.

If money isn’t a problem, then the RTX 3090 is the absolutely awesome mega-card of your dreams. It uses 10,496 CUDA cores, 24GB of 384-bit video memory, offering 8K resolution to those whose monitor or TV can support it. You’ll need 350 watts of power for 8-pin double rails for the GPU alone, three PCI slots in your case, and $1,500. According to NVIDIA, the RTX 3090 is 50% faster than the Titan RTX, and will be released on September 24.

Design advantages

In addition to raw computing power, NVIDIA is promoting new design features that allow for better performance for ray tracing graphics, streaming to services like Twitch, better compatibility with NVIDIA’s DLSS graphic boosting technology, and more efficient and efficient cooling equipment. Purchasing a new 3000 Series card will give you a free copy of the future Watch Dogs: Legion, as well as one year of Premium GeForce NOW service.

If these prices make you crack, wait a little. NVIDIA is no doubt looking forward to releasing an RTX 3060 at a more affordable price, not to mention competition from graphics card licensees such as ASUS, EVGA and Gigabyte. We should see a greater variety of designs and prices at the end of this year or early next year.…

Targeted Email Marketing: 5 Effective Segmentation

Marketing strategy

A recent study found that segmented email marketing campaigns, compared to unsegmented email marketing campaigns, increased the opening rate by an average of 14.64% and the click-through rate by 59.99%.

That said, figuring out the best way to segment your subscriber lists can sometimes seem hyper-complex. I’m going to prove you wrong! In this post, I’ll show you 5 quick and easy segmentation strategies that you can start applying to your subscriber lists today.

1. Demographics

The first way you can start segmenting your email marketing list is by demographics. Information such as age, gender, company position and income level can tell a lot about a person’s needs and interests.

The more information you get about your audience in the process of registering for your email communications, the more options you will have for demographic segmentation. However, be careful with this, because asking for too much information to join can be a hindrance to the registration of several people.

Decide which metrics are most essential to your business and include them only in the registration process.

For example, if you are a B2B software developer, the company position would be an important demographic. If you are a clothing retailer, the genre would be very useful to know. Add one to three of the demographic factors most relevant to your business (or more, depending on the complexity of your segmentation needs).

2. Survey results

Some merchants are minimalists who would not dare ask for more than an email address to sign up for their mailing list to make sure they don’t lose a single lead. That’s very good! You can always access more customer data later by creating a survey.

A survey gives you the opportunity not only to get valuable demographic information, as mentioned above, but also to get an idea of individual tastes, preferences and beliefs.

If you want to send a survey to your audience and get a lot of responses, you should probably create some kind of incentive to complete it, for example, by offering a contest, a coupon or a free item that they can then claim in-store or on your website. A customer who shows up in the store will give you the opportunity to learn more about them or offer them products that might be of interest to them.

There are many ways to create personalized surveys for your audience. If you have a WordPress site, you can use the Quiz and Survey Master plug-in to create your custom survey, or choose from a wide range of choices.

3. Commitment

Your subscribers’ commitment to your email is another very simple way to segment your lists, but it can have a huge positive impact on your overall results.

The main metrics related to engagement are the opening rate and the click rate.

For example, you can segment by engagement by designating active vs. inactive users, such as someone who hasn’t opened your emails in the last three months. You can then create a specialized campaign designed to reintegrate your inactive subscribers.

Or you can focus on engaging subscribers and target them more accurately.

For example: you send an email announcing an upcoming sale, and anyone who clicks on the email link can be classified as “interested.” You can then create a special campaign to further target them as potential buyers of the sale.

4. Geographical area

GEography

There are many ways to use geographic location data, making geographic segmentation a valuable tool, especially for businesses where location greatly influences purchasing decisions.

Litmus, for example, used geolocation to send targeted emails for his email design conferences in San Francisco, London and Boston, including useful details for each location:

His targeted emails earned him a 68% opening rate, compared to a 22% opening rate for the general announcement of the conference.

Other ways businesses can use geographic data include:

  • Time-based emails: Plan your emails to be received at the best time for each subscriber based on their time zone.
  • Regional promotions: Send targeted emails for events, discounts, liquidations at select stores near your subscribers.
  • Favorite Branch: Send specific offers to the physical store that a frequent subscriber frequents.
  • Location-specific content: Use a specific location in the subject of the email or in the content to get attention and provide a personalized experience.

5. Buying habits

Segmentation by buying habits is another simple way to optimize targeting. The easiest way is to start emailing recommendations for similar items or accessories that would go well with their previous purchase.

Or if a customer has purchased something that requires a replacement, filling or renewal, you can send targeted emails based on their potential needs.

For example, if someone has purchased a hairdressing product, you can make a reasonable estimate to know when it might run out and email them after a few months to suggest a new order.

Conclusion

Segmenting your email marketing lists is not just a tactic for big brands with the most advanced marketing automation software. With a simple tool like Emailicious, you can create a free account, import your subscriber lists, and send targeted content with these easy segmentation policies today.

If you have any questions or comments about this article, or any suggestions for my next posts, don’t hesitate to email them to me, directly in the comments section at the bottom of my articles, on our Facebook page, or even by giving me a phone call!…

Top Questions To Ask a Painter Before Painting a House

There are more and more individuals who decide to paint their homes themselves, but when it comes to getting to work, they always have some doubts in relation to interior painting. That is why, as paint professionals that we are, we have decided to solve some of the main questions users pose to Neighbourhood Painters in St Catharines when painting a home.

What is the difference between interior paint and exterior paint?

The interior paint is designed to withstand friction and wear on the walls, and in its formulation, special attention is paid to the smooth finish and silky touch, which can be gloss, matt, or satin. On the other hand, outdoor paints tend to have a rougher and rougher touch and are formulated with the aim of resisting inclement weather, as well as fungus, mold, etc. problems.

How should a surface be prepared before painting?

Before proceeding to the painting of any surface, it is essential to check the state of this surface to detect possible problems. If it is in optimal condition, then it will only be necessary to clean it with a damp cloth to remove dirt and dust. Once clean and dry, our acrylic sealant fixative will be applied so that the surface has better adhesion to apply the paint subsequently.

How to calculate the paint that is needed?

To know the amount of paint that is needed to paint a certain surface, it is important to know the m2 of this; this can be done by multiplying the width of the wall by the height of it. Still, there are several tools that will help you calculate it faster, such as the Blatem paint calculator.

Is there a difference between smooth or rough surfaces?

Yes, there are differences between both types of surfaces, since the performance on rough walls is lower than on smooth ones. The main problem is that rough surfaces have grooves that make it difficult to penetrate the paint, leaving small areas unpainted or causing a loss of color. To avoid it, it is very important to have a brush suitable for rough walls.

Can you paint a wall or facade with mold spots?

In order to paint a wall that has moisture and mold problems, you must first remove them. This requires cleaning the surface with a suitable product for this purpose, for example, the cleaner facades Paint Blatem, which allows ending such problems. The surface must be allowed to dry for the indicated time, and then the surface will be ready for painting. As a recommendation, on walls with mold and moisture problems, it is advisable to use paints with anti-mold preservatives that prevent their appearance.

Is it possible to paint a glossy surface with matte paint? And vice versa?

Yes, you can change the finish of a surface, either gloss or matt, but for this, you will first have to sand the wall to prepare the surface. It will also be convenient to apply a primer to improve the adhesion of the surface, and, finally, it can be painted with the selected product.…