Mediaboss Marketing

Sometimes it takes a sudden spike in bounce rates to illustrate a problem with the accessibility and usability of a website.

The increased demand for website accessibility revealed how many businesses were unprepared.

When people around the world were ordered to stay home, their dependence on the web for basic necessities increased.

Many websites and apps were unprepared to handle the increased load or demands for their services and products.

The more interesting development from the crush was discovering how inaccessible websites are.

Suddenly more people were walking in the shoes of those who already knew from personal experience.

For example, many people suddenly found themselves crash course learning Zoom to join employee meetings or helping patients and customers by appointment.

Zoom does not provide closed captioning for video webinars with the free version.

People with poor vision and deaf users have to pay a fee for captions, which is discrimination.

This was quickly called out by the accessibility community. Closed captions should be available at no extra charge to users.

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Blunders like this one provide insight into where human biases and inexperience affect digital product development.

Closed captions help all sorts of people understand audio, especially if speakers have an accent or mumble.

The words on the screen help viewers stay focused and less distracted.

In some use cases, audio must be turned off so as not to annoy someone nearby. Closed captioning allows people to follow along quietly.

Bounce rates are a signal that there are barriers to task completion.

The missing piece during the design and development phases is user testing with people in their normal environment using the computer devices they rely on.

There are no accessibility automated tools capable of providing the test feedback required to meet all the requirements for building an online business, app, or website.

However, newer accessibility testing software in beta stages are becoming smarter, which will be helpful in the future.

For the present, the pressure to improve website accessibility is urgent.

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While the coronavirus and court closures may have temporarily slowed the trend of digital accessibility lawsuits, increased online use during the pandemic make for a ripe accessibility lawsuit atmosphere. Indeed, COVID-19 related digital accessibility lawsuits are already beginning to emerge. Amihai Miron, CEO User1st

If your website data is like reading a mystery thriller novel with unpredictable characters leaving bounce rates and poor conversions with no clues to follow, you are not alone.

According to the World Health Organization, 2.2 billion people are visually impaired.

In a study published by Diamond, of the top 100 websites ranked by Alexa in February 2020 a whopping 98.1% of home pages had at least one detectable WCAG 2 failure and 97.8% on interior pages.

Overall, an average of 60.9 errors were detected per home page and 53 errors on average were found on interior pages.

These are the top 100 ranked websites. Are you wondering where your website stands?

Understanding what your online visitors are doing, plus how, where, and why they are doing it is as fun as figuring out how to traverse a corn maze.

There is no avoiding the details if you want to make improvements and certainly if building from scratch.

Without a plan, your developers are unguided.

Creating user personas is not always an effective method for understanding your target market because large segments of people with unique behaviors are left out.

It is too easy to create composite users.

The result is learning what is missed after a website or app is released to the public.

Regardless of whether you work for a global corporation or a small business, success is directly traceable to planning, procedures, guidelines, dedication to excellence, and a desire to explore new opportunities.

Look at all bounce rates, (not just super high ones), low conversions, and web site abandonment.

Keep testing forms, do user testing within your target market, and learn how to use at least one screen reader. Safari Voice Over is free on a Mac.

Several studies on accessibility indicate a decline in meeting WCAG guidelines by websites.

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In addition to declining revenue, as more countries enforce their digital accessibility laws, an accessibility lawsuit is a real concern.

I hope to inspire you to think outside your comfort zone because for millions of website users, discomfort is what they have come to expect from our websites.

A red alert sounded with COVID-19 and the stay-at-home response by governments around the world.

Employees, teachers, students, and the general public forced to stay home and use the web for basic survival needs like going to work or buying food quickly realized they could do neither painlessly.

Businesses sent their employees home without considering their home setups.

Staff without high-speed internet or newer computers are struggling to efficiently do their jobs.

Students and parents faced with online lessons, homework, and correspondence with teachers felt the brunt of badly built educational websites.

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In the U.S. alone, 13,600 public school districts care for 7.5 million students with special needs.

Closing the schools created enormous hurdles for online accessibility for these students.

The shocking discovery was the sheer number of websites that are neither accessible nor user-friendly.

They are not designed for people in distress, who may have disabilities, or special needs (whether permanent or temporary), and those who depend on assistive computer devices to use the web at all.

None of this is news to the accessibility community who have been designing, testing, developing, training, and advocating for inclusion for years.

Deque published the results of a recent survey among the accessibility community and found that 83% of all respondents said that, COVID-19 has raised the profile and importance of digital channels for their organization.

Before this, it was the threat of an ADA accessibility lawsuit that raised concern.

The CDC released interesting data, too.

A new CDC studyestimates that autism affects roughly 5.4 million people in the U.S. aged 18 and older. This would be a prevalence of 2.21% of U.S. adults, or roughly 1 in 45.

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Website survival in todays global economy depends on a willingness to invest in understanding and designing for new challenges.

Agencies providing digital services such as website design, software development, or online marketing need procedures and planning that adapt to frequent changes in technology and guidelines.

Some ideas:

If the long-term goal is to put a business on the web, it has to prove it will work for everyone wishing to interact with it.

Discoveries begin in-house.

Developers build better products when they are given the time and resources to properly understand what they are asked to design.

They need continuous education and training to keep up with the required skills.

Provide them with access to user behavior research, computers, mobile devices, operating systems, browsers and the freedom to include these with their planning, test plans, user testing, and long-term maintenance.

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Each generation of people uses the web differently.

This is critically important if you are building apps that target different age groups.

Break up your development and designers into teams and let the senior level mentor junior level.

Then, reverse that to give the junior level staff the opportunity to introduce fresh ideas to seasoned staff who may be stuck using the same procedures.

A common mistake is making assumptions about who will use your website or app.

For example, it is assumed that everyone has a mobile phone.

It is assumed everyone has the latest operating system, browser, and fast internet.

It is assumed that everyone can see, hear, has a computer mouse, and recalls content.

It may be assumed that all CMS themes and plugins work properly and are designed to meet current design W3C and WCAG requirements.

There is simply no way your company can develop and market digital products without an intimate knowledge about who will use them.

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Bounce rates alert you that someone could not or did not finish a task.

At the first hint that a new website, software, or mobile app is on deck, gather and document every detail and track it.

Here are less commonly implemented best practices for accessibility and usability.

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Accessibility testing is sometimes ignored because people say it is too hard to learn.

Ignoring WCAG and Section 508 guidelines can result in a website or app that is not only difficult to learn but impossible to use.

Countless millions of people need for us to be encouraged to learn how to build accessible, usable, and inclusive websites and apps.

Companies are encouraged to hire people with the passion to learn, even if their skills are not perfect or they lack certification in accessibility.

Employers need to examine hiring practices that exclude:

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These are the people able to help developers because they know what it is like to be excluded.

Here are additional resources to help you now.

More Resources:

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How to Meet the Increased Demand for Website Accessibility - Search Engine Journal

Search Engine Optimization is important because it bring more clicks and traffic to our websites. So here is the list of Top SEO Companies in India, which helps to increase the quality of websites by making them user-friendly, faster and easier to navigate.

1. Web Destiny Solutions

Web Destiny Solutions is the Best SEO Company in India founded in 2010, providing high-level Digital Marketing and SEO Services for online businesses. The company provides full-suite Internet Marketing Services and has completed more than 250 projects for clients from 27 countries across the world. Right from its inception the company has been obsessed with Quality, Creativity, Innovation, Affordability, and Usability.

Core Services: Web Designing and Development, Digital Marketing, Ecommerce Development, Mobile App Development, Social Media Management, Search Engine Marketing, Brand and Reputation Management, and more.

Website: https://webdestiny.net/

2. SEO Experts India

SEO Experts India established in 2009, is an Internet Marketing Company offering reliable and proven SEO Services. SEO Experts have extensive industry experience and customer-centric approach and ensure that brand, website, marketing campaigns perform exceptionally every time.

Core Services: Social Media Marketing, Pay Per Click Management, Link building solutions, Content Development Services, Online Reputation Management.

Website: http://www.seoexpertsindia.com

3. RankDeck SEO Specialists

RankDeck SEO Specialists is a full-service SEO Agency in India offering innovative Internet Marketing Solutions to businesses across the world. RankDeck is a complete Online Marketing firm that consults and utilizes the whole digital marketing strategy. They have a team of SEO experts who have been providing the highest quality SEO Services to businesses all over the world.

Core Services: Web Design, Web Development, Social Media Optimization, Pay Per Click, Outsource SEO Services, and more.

Website: https://www.rankdeckseo.in/

4. Techmagnate

Founded in 2006, Techmagnate is Indias Top SEO Service Company based in New Delhi, which consults and implements the entire digital marketing strategy. Techmagnate comprises a team of professionals with more than decades of SEO experience in providing results to clients and sound knowledge of the latest SEO trends.

Core Services: Website Designing & Development, Digital Marketing, Search Engine Marketing, Pay Per Click, Content Marketing, App Marketing, Reputation Management, etc.

Website: https://www.techmagnate.com/

5. Page Traffic

Page Traffic is Indias top-rated SEO Agency since 2002. Page Traffic offers Digital Marketing and SEO solutions to rank high on search results, connect with the target audience, and earn high ROI. They provide customized SEO solutions that are unique and specific to each client and their business goals. The objective of the company is to empower e-business and generate maximum ROI for its clients.

Core Services: Web designing, Social Media Marketing, Pay Per Click, Ecommerce solutions, App store optimization, Link Building, Online Media Buying, etc.

Website: https://www.pagetraffic.in/

6. SEOTonic Web Solutions

SEOTonic is a full-service Online Marketing Agency founded in 2006. SEOTonic is an award-winning SEO Company in India offering innovative SEO and Digital Marketing Solutions to keep websites on the top rank of the search results. SEOTonic has an established team of professionals who provide the best SEO Services with proven strategies and techniques that deliver exceptional results.

Core Services: Web Development, Pay Per Click, Content Marketing, Reputation Management, Search Engine Marketing, Social Media Management, Link Building, and more.

Website: https://www.seotonic.com/

7. Webspero Solutions

Founded in 2015, Webspero Solutions is one of the most recommended and reputed process-driven Online Marketing Agency. Webspero Solutions have a team that comprises of highly experienced and intuitive digital marketing professionals, developers, designers.

Core Services: Web Design, Web Development, Ecommerce, App Development, Content Writing.

Website: https://www.webspero.com/

8. Indian SEO Company

Indian SEO Company offers SEO Company Service and Professional SEO Services for its global clients. They establish a unique and highly effective online presence for the clients.

Core Services: Digital Marketing, Pay Per Click Management, Reputation Management, Social Media Marketing, Content Writing, Link Building, etc.

Website: https://www.indian-seo-company.com/

9. SAVIT Interactive

SAVIT Interactive founded in 2004, the leading SEO Company in India, offering innovative SEO and Digital Marketing Solutions to keep websites on the top rank of the search results. They include all the key elements of SEO services such as on-page SEO, off-page SEO and technical SEO to find a wider audience.

Core Services: Search Engine Marketing, Social Media Optimization, Web design, Graphic Design, Domain and Hosting, etc.

Website: https://www.savit.in/

10. SEO Experts Company India

SEO Experts Company India is one of the Best SEO Agency in India offering Internet Marketing Solutions from small businesses to enterprises. They have a team of talented specialists for executing a successful SEO campaign.

Core Services: Content Marketing, Link Building, Pay Per Click Management, Ecommerce SEO, White-Label SEO, etc.

Website: https://seoexpertscompanyindia.com/

Want to make your startup journey smooth? YS Education brings a comprehensive Funding and Startup Course. Learn from India's top investors and entrepreneurs. Click here to know more.

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List of Top SEO Companies in India - YourStory

Glass windows can be as confining as iron bars when you want to be out in the world with friends and family.

Before Covid-19 struck I had lunch regularly with friends at restaurants or at our home in Tacomas Northend. Also, Peg and I and I had long standing dinner dates with friends on most Friday evenings followed by Sunday breakfast with some of those very same people as we visited restaurants from Browns Point to Vashon Island, Parkland, Hawks Prairie and many places in-between. This all came to a stand still when shelter-in-place measures were announced. At first this was no big deal, Peg and I have been living and working together for a long time. We enjoy each others company and it gave us time to watch movies either together or individually and then share commentary and sometimes re-watch the films together.

What I love most about staying home to self-quarantine is who I share it with. Unknown

After a month or so, this changed. Although Peg and I still laughed and worked together, boredom set in. We picked up some new writing clients as well as marketing clients, which was a surprise given the fact that many businesses had to lock their doors. Even with clients to work with via phone and internet, I found myself working less . . . or sometimes just staring at the computer screen. Our Friday night friends group staged a friendly backyard late afternoon dinner, bringing our own dinner. We spaced ourselves out for dinner and then got a little more intimate for chatting. The eleven of us were in a rough circle from ten to thirty feet apart. We chatted and laughed, but the evening lacked the normal closeness and camaraderie. Usually we are sitting next to each other around the dinner table with the furthest person just four or five feet away across the table. There was no sharing of food or appetizers, and of course no hugging.

Peg and I had nice time, but even so, it seemed depressing. It does feel like loneliness, boredom and depression are taking its toll on us, or at least me. But, I dont think were alone.

Before the isolation, my Friend Donn would call around 7:30 almost every Sunday morning to see if Peg and I were ready for breakfast. Although we dont go out for breakfast any more now, that call still comes in every Sunday morning. The days of the week have lost much meaning, but that early morning call reminds me that it is Sunday. We laugh and share the latest news. The ring is a nice wake-up call about friendship and sharing. It cheers me up. The connection paves the way for sometime soon, when we can venture out into the world again.

According to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the U.S., affecting 40 million adults in the United States age 18 and older, or 18.1% of the population every year. Its not uncommon for someone with an anxiety disorder to also suffer from depression or vice versa. Nearly one-half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder. adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

With the pandemic raging it is nearly impossible to schedule an in-person appointment with a medical doctor, however therapists are still available but you must call her or him and see how they are operating now. Depression is a serious mood disorder and its easy to see how the current worries and conflicting arguments can easily exacerbate the problem. Its estimated that 16 million American adults had at least one major depressive episode in 2019. 2020 is likely to spike the charts. adaa.org/about-adaa/press-room/facts-statistics

Therapist Emily Pattee of Denver says, Life is hard. We all suffer. People today experience more stress, emptiness, anxiety, self-judgment, and depression than ever. . . Cultivating a healthy relationship to our emotions opens space for greater connection, confidence, and compassion. A healthy experience of our inner world also opens the way to tapping into the fullest expression of ourselves.

A therapist is a trained and licensed mental health professional. Therapists help patients deal with mental and emotional issues like isolation, anxiety, and depression. Therapists work with people to develop plans for ongoing care to improve their lives as they cope with challenges and concerns. Janet Bent, a local therapist with offices in University Place and Olympia says, Therapy is often short-term, focusing on specific changes or solutions to current concerns. Longer-term therapy focused on understanding and changing long-standing issues or patterns is sometimes appropriate for more deeply internalized difficulties. janetbentcounseling.com/

Worry, depression, and anxiety are as common among older adults as they are among the young. Its amazing how fragile we all are.

Social distancing is difficult for people. It goes against our communication skills. We are used to being close to people. We see and react to facial expressions (smiles, frowns, a wink, etc.) and body language (a shrug of the shoulders, gestures, a dance step or two), and contact like a simple touch, pat, or hug.

When we interact with other people, a lot of the meaning conveyed between two people is actually not conveyed in the actual words, but in nonverbal behavior. Chris Segrin, University of Arizona

Therapy is often short-term, focusing on specific changes or solutions to current concerns. Longer-term therapy focused on understanding and changing long-standing issues or patterns is sometimes appropriate for more deeply internalized difficulties. Anxiety and depression can claim anyone. One of our favorite comedian/actor/author funny man explains about being depressed.

If you know someone whos depressed, please resolve never to ask them why. Depression isnt a straightforward response to a bad situation; depression just is, like the weather. Stephen Fry

I also like these words of wisdom from Michelle Obama, Whether an illness affects your heart, your arm, or your brain, its still an illness, and there shouldnt be any distinction. We would never tell someone with a broken leg that they should stop wallowing and get it together. We dont consider taking medication for an ear infection something to be ashamed of. We shouldnt treat mental health conditions any differently. Instead, we should make it clear that getting help isnt a sign of weaknessits a sign of strengthand we should ensure that people can get the treatment they need.

In my solitudeYou haunt meWith dreadful easeOf days gone byIn my solitudeYou taunt meWith memoriesThat never dieThis is a great song to listen to when youre alone and lonely and want to just relax and think about what you value. In My Solitude composed by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills. I love this version by Ella Fitzgerald.

Covid-19 with the adoption of social distancing and isolation is testing the bonds that connect us to one another. Those bonds will remain. We may not see the end of the virus for some time, but we will overcome it and our feelings of solitude as we bind the bridges and gaps between friends, families and neighbors. Reaching out with phone calls, email, and social media can help protect all of us from social isolation and loneliness as we all stand against this virus. Lets all help each other when we can and if not, then seek a little help when we need it. Were not out of the woods, yet. Be prepared and face the new dawn here in Western Washington. The world may be a little different, but well still be here . . . with our friends and family.

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Depression, Anxiety, and Plenty of Solitude - The Suburban Times

On this episode of the MarketScale Online Learning Minute, host Brian Runo dives into how quantum computing, the next revolutionary leap forward in computing, could apply to online education.

In particular, it can be used to epitomize the connectivism theory and provide personalized learning for each individual, as its not restricted by the capacity of an individual instructor.

In this way, each learner can be empowered to learn at their own pace and be presented with materials more tailored to them in real-time.

In fact, quantum computing is so revolutionary that the education world likely cant even currently dream up the innovations it will enable.

For the latest news, videos, and podcasts in theEducation Technology Industry, be sure to subscribe to our industry publication.

Follow us on social media for the latest updates in B2B!Twitter @MarketScaleFacebook facebook.com/marketscaleLinkedIn linkedin.com/company/marketscale

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The Role of Quantum Computing in Online Education - MarketScale

May 28, 2020 Under the direction of Michael Devetsikiotis, chair of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE), The University of New Mexico recently joined the IBM Q Hubat North Carolina State University as its first university member.

The NC State IBM Q Hub is a cloud-based quantum computing hub, one of six worldwide and the first in North America to be part of the globalIBM Q Network. This global network links national laboratories, tech startups, Fortune 500 companies, and research universities, providing access to IBMs largest quantum computing systems.

Mainstream computer processors inside our laptops, desktops, and smartphones manipulatebits, information that can only exist as either a 1 or a 0. In other words, the computers we are used to function through programming, which dictates a series of commands with choices restricted to yes/no or if this, then that.Quantum computers, on the other hand, process quantum bits or qubits, that are not restricted to a binary choice. Quantum computers can choose if this, then that or both through complex physics concepts such as quantum entanglement. This allows quantum computers to process information more quickly, and in unique ways compared to conventional computers.

Access to systems such as IBMs newly announced53 qubit processor (as well as several 20 qubit machines) is just one of the many benefits to UNMs participation in the IBM Q Hub when it comes to data analysis and algorithm development for quantum hardware. Quantum knowledge will only grow with time, and the IBM Q Hub will provide unique training and research opportunities for UNM faculty and student researchers for years to come.

How did this partnership come to be? Two years ago, a sort of call to arms was sent out among UNM quantum experts, saying now was the time for big ideas because federal support for quantum research was gaining traction. Devetsikiotis vision was to create a quantum ecosystem, one that could unite the foundational quantum research in physics atUNMsCenter for Quantum Information and Control(CQuIC) with new quantum computing and engineering initiatives for solving big real-world mathematical problems.

At first, I thought [quantum] was something for physicists, explains Devetsikiotis. But I realized its a great opportunity for the ECE department to develop real engineering solutions to these real-world problems.

CQuIC is the foundation of UNMs long-standing involvement in quantum research, resulting in participation in theNational Quantum Initiative(NQI) passed by Congress in 2018 to support multidisciplinary research and training in quantum information science. UNM has been a pioneer in quantum information science since the field emerged 25 years ago, as CQuIC Director Ivan Deutsch knows first-hand.

This is a very vibrant time in our field, moving from physics to broader activities, says Deutsch, and [Devetsikiotis] has seen this as a real growth area, connecting engineering with the existing strengths we have in the CQuIC.

With strategic support from the Office of the Vice President for Research, Devetsikiotis secured National Science Foundation funding to support a Quantum Computing & Information Science (QCIS) faculty fellow. The faculty member will join the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering with the goal to unite well-established quantum research in physics with new quantum education and research initiatives in engineering. This includes membership in CQuIC and implementation of the IBM Q Hub program, as well as a partnership with Los Alamos National Lab for a Quantum Computing Summer School to develop new curricula, educational materials, and mentorship of next-generation quantum computing and information scientists.As part of the Q Hub at NC State, UNM gains access to IBMs largest quantum computing systems for commercial use cases and fundamental research. It also allows for the restructuring of existing quantum courses to be more hands-on and interdisciplinary than they have in the past, as well as the creation of new courses, a new masters degree program in QCIS, and a new university-wide Ph.D. concentration in QCIS that can be added to several departments including ECE, Computer Science, Physics and Astronomy, and Chemistry.

Theres been a lot of challenges, Devetsikiotis says, but there has also been a lot of good timing, and thankfully The University has provided support for us. UNM has solidified our seat at the quantum table and can now bring in the industrial side.

For additional graphics and full announcement, https://news.unm.edu/news/the-university-of-new-mexico-becomes-ibm-q-hubs-first-university-member

Source: Natalie Rogers, University of New Mexico

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The University of New Mexico Becomes IBM Q Hub's First University Member - HPCwire