September 1, 2015 – Ryan Shearer – The IT professionals at webworks89 in Wilmington, NC, have previously explored the faults of Microsoft XP and now have turned their attention to the Windows 10 Migration. Read about the Windows 10 migration process and why your business should hire IT assistance during these transitions.

With a track record of initially unsuccessful migration launches, Microsoft is trying to turn the tide of this cultural perception with the launch of Windows 10. Most businesses have been hesitant to jump ship from their current operating system, but for those adventurous enough to take the leap, many have had a surprisingly smooth adjustment through hiring IT Specialists. Here’s what some of these digital conquistadors have found so far, roll the tape.

The overwhelming response to Windows 8 was negative, making the Windows 10 launch not premature, but definitely earlier than Microsoft had originally anticipated. Windows 8 was touch screen oriented and one of the biggest flusters was the lack of start menu that so many Windows users had become accustomed to. Windows 10 made it a point to bring back the start bar among other features. Because 8 was so unpopular across the board, many Chief Informing Officers (CIOs) of businesses have been skittish about migrating over to this new Windows 10 system.

In an early study, about 71 percent of companies plan to wait 6 months before making the transition over to Windows 10. Due to this weariness, Microsoft will have to do some real convincing to prove to the public that migrating to Windows 10 is well worth it. Let’s start with some new features that Windows 10 has to offer.

One of the most prominent features in Windows 10 is the Action Center. The Action Center is where users can get notifications and access to fast, useful settings. These include, tablet mode toggles, Wifi, airplane mode, brightness controls and other basic settings. Microsoft has enhanced security on this new operating system by adding a Device Guard. What this does is it wraps an extra layer of defense around the operating system so that it will prevent malware from destroying a PC completely.  The Windows Hello feature makes your computer more personal and more secure. By using asymmetric key cryptography, Windows 10 can verify administrators through facial, fingerprint or iris recognition, that hackers cannot replicate. One of the most notable features on Windows 10 is the birth of Cortana, the Windows rival of Siri. Cortana does more than just simple voice commands and queries; she can actually help users search their apps, the Windows store and even your files to answer search queries. By understanding what you’re looking for and knowing where to find it, Cortana adds a personal touch to the user experience. She’s located right next to the ever popular start menu, and is a huge beneficiary to Windows users.

Many migrations in the past have hit speed bumps and road blocks after the initial launch. Microsoft understands that it will take more than just promising a better, more enhanced user experience. Sure these features are important to include, but it doesn’t go that extra yard to bring users in. To combat this, Microsoft decided to use the launch of Windows 10 as a marketing campaign geared towards non-profits.

To entice forerunners to embark on this migration, Microsoft asked them to use social media and tag any non-profit while using the hashtag #UpgradeYourWorld. Whichever non-profit that receives the most votes will become the 10^th non-profit in Microsoft’s supported foundations. This non-profit will receive $ 500,000 and other support from Microsoft. This generates a positive outlook and gives people and businesses that extra encouragement to migrate over to Windows 10. The idea of #UpgradeYourWorld is to make people believe that they can use this new operating system to better the world around them. This progressive minded marketing is a great way to convince users to migrate while simultaneously bringing them together for a good cause.

It’s easier for individual users to make this decision, but businesses have many factors to weigh when these transitions arise. First, they must decide when the appropriate time to make this move is. Businesses have historically migrated a few months after the launch, so that all glitches and other holes are patched up. Most businesses might not have the knowledge and expertise in place to execute these mass-migrations. The best option is to hire an IT company that specializes in these areas. webworks89, is a digital solution provider in Wilmington, NC that has been hired for multiple mass migrations. Once the launch date is set, webworks89 or any IT supporter provider you choose will back up all old machines to prevent data loss and be sure to back-up just before the migration. These companies will ensure that all of your employees most recent work will be saved and transferred over during this transition. Once Windows 10 is up and running,  all the back-ups should be archived on this new operating system. IT providers like webworks89, will give your business the peace of mind that this will be a quick transition to a new system that will continue to benefit your business.

Microsoft intends for Windows 10 to be the last migration for the foreseeable future. The new idea is to have smaller but more frequent, updates that fix security glitches and other concerns going forward. This will certainly be a welcomed change by businesses that are tired of migrating their operating systems. The flood gates are opening and businesses that procrastinate on this decision will only be doing themselves a disservice. Enhanced speed, security, applications combined with professionals that can properly handle the transitions, businesses now have an effective migrating solution at their disposal.

For immediate Release:

August 28, 2015 – Wilmington, NC – Sea Coast Disposal teamed up with an old friend, webworks89, to design a website that incorporates all the latest features of responsive website design. This fresh website will give Sea Coast Disposal the recognition they deserve.

Sea Coast Disposal is a family owned business that was established in 1990. Starting out with one truck, they now have a national reach that extends to six states. Beginning in 2003, Sea Coast turned their attentions to serving our military. They currently serve 8 military bases, transferring the experience from their commercial operations to providing recycling solutions and proper disposal options to our troops. By providing consistent service and paying close attention to detail, Sea Coast Disposal has gained the trust of military bases that expect and demand efficient services. Their dedicated work is reflected through the growth of clients they’ve made through the years. They’ve shared a history with webworks89, a web developer out of Wilmington, NC, over these years and the two recently decided to pair back up to ensure  Sea Coast Disposal’s website progresses with business demands.

Sea Coast Disposal recently incorporated responsive web design into their new site. Responsive web design is crucial in this new digital age. Responsive sites use Content Management Systems (CMS) to create neat website structures that are compatible with smart phones, tablets, desktops etc. Starting April 21^st of this year, Google has gone through and indexed responsive websites to ensure that they appear at the top of Google searches. This means that responsive websites will have higher page ranks than older, outdated websites. This is crucial in this day and age where much of business is found through the internet, and if a business is readily discoverable it is more likely to expand. What the web developers at webworks89 did for Sea coast Disposal was not only design the responsive site but they made sure it was Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly. This means that they use key words, plug-ins and back links to enhance the Google page ranks.

On Sea Coast Disposals home page you’ll see a slide show of pictures that show Sea Coast hard at work. It even has a stunning shot of one military ship in the background to illustrate its relationship with the military. There is contact information readily available as well as details about Sea Coast Disposal’s history and services. There are 5 tabs at the top listed as About Us, Careers, Gallery, Employee’s and Contact Us. These tabs are neatly laid out and make it easy for viewers to access information. The gallery is well done, showing all the different trucks Sea Coast Disposal uses, hard at work applying the efficient recycling solutions they offer. The overall experience of this site is user friendly and because of its responsiveness, it will rise on Google searches regarding recycling, disposal, etc. on the surrounding communities/states they serve in.

In business for 25 years now, Sea Coast is always thinking towards the future, and this new website is just another example of how they’ve applied that.Check their new responsive website out and learn more about the great work that Sea Coast Disposal does for our troops.

For Immediate Release:

August 27, 2015 – The web developers at webworks89 in Wilmington, NC., strictly build websites that incorporate responsive web design. Read here about the significance of responsive websites and how this has impacted mobile advertising.

Over this past decade, the internet has subjected websites to a period that has (metaphorically) resembled the ice age. In this glacial landscape, websites were rigid, unable to alter their own shape. Responsive Website Design has melted away these icebergs of past and opened the door for new, shapeless websites, that flow like water.

These responsive websites have the capacity to adapt the new fleet of devices people now use to access the internet, namely smartphones and tablets. With the development of networks and mobile internet, our society has obtained a growing thirst for instant gratification. We demand immediate results and are quick to look elsewhere when these answers are not readily available. This short consumer attention span has led companies to focus on homepage retention, triggering the high demand for responsive web design.

Websites that are responsive mold their design to whatever device is accessing it, this includes Androids, i-Phones, tablets, desktops; you name it. This compatibility is instilled through Content Management Systems (CMS). To put it briefly, CMS’s serve as the architectural foundation for a website to neatly adjust to different devices. These systems can add plug-ins to your site so that it may enhance speed, security and overall performance. This new adaptability has had a dramatic impact on the amount of mobile users who can access the internet.

Nowadays 80 percent of smartphones users choose to use mobile phones when shopping online. From 2014 to 2015 mobile device grew at a whopping 137 percent. Compare this to desktops that still grew at a respectable 14 percent. This drastic jump in mobile use means that people are on the internet now more than ever and to no one’s surprise, advertisers have begun to take notice.

Banner Ads have become a popular strategy for advertisers marketing on responsive websites. They understand that the attention span of a mobile user is short and should not be disrupted. These banner ads offer brand recognition and direct response interaction with viewers, all without disturbing the user experience. Facebook Ads have also become a favorite for advertisers using mobile marketing strategies. Alicia Wagner, a Social media Specialist at Coegi, a digital marketing company, said, “Unlike mobile banners, Facebook mobile placements are all prominently placed in the newsfeed with a large visual, and take up the entire screen in the app environment.” Advertisers gear these mobile marketing efforts towards responsive, user friendly sites because they’re easily discovered and visitors are more likely to stay on that page.

Google Analytics is a tool that many companies now use to analyze metrics as well and other important demographic information.

Google Analytics allows you to monitor metrics and determine the quality of website performance. Page views, bounce rate, users, sessions and average duration of session, are all key metrics that inform hosts on what the average user experience is on their website. Responsive websites strengthen these measurable metrics by pulling in more users, increasing duration of sessions and subsequently decreasing your page bounce rate. These tools ensure that your website is living up to its full potential and gains the undivided attention of advertisers.

Money is the name of the game, and your website should be your best salesperson. It should have a neat appearance that leaves a positive first impression. By embedding content that contains key words and useful plug-ins, your responsive website will become Search Engine Optimization (SEO) friendly. Beginning April 21st of this year, Google has actually gone through and indexed websites, pushing older, outdated websites lower on the page ranks. More users feel encouraged to use mobile internet and as a result, the Business Insider found that the US mobile ad spend will reach $42 billion by 2018.

Having a responsive website is central when climbing your website to the top of the Google ranks. Properly managed SEO can play a significant factor on your site’s advertising appeal, in a sense, killing two birds with one stone.

First and foremost, it benefits your brand. Your responsive website will be more readily discovered with searches surrounding your business and business location. This exposure will give you an edge up on your competition, sending more of their potential customers in your direction. This seamless form of advertising that exposes your brand to thousands of viewers simply through having a functional website. Secondly, a well structured SEO campaign will make your website the ideal landing strip for outside businesses.  Advertisers across the board take note of these SEO rankings and the higher your page is, the more likely you are to be contacted by interested marketers.

A quote from the legendary Bruce Lee seems to sum-up responsive design nicely, “If you put water into a cup, it becomes the cup. If you put water into a bottle, it becomes the bottle. You put it into a teapot, it becomes the teapot. Now water can flow or it can crash. Be like water, my friend”. As your responsive design molds to smart phones or tablets, it will be like water. When your business thinks in a progressive direction it will be less likely to crash, falling through the cracks of the vast internet landscape. Be responsive, my friend.

For Immediate Release:

Wilmington, NC – The web design experts at webworks89 recently dug deeper into the importance of social media profiles for businesses and the different ways to properly manage content.

Our modern flow of news and information makes for a frenetic tempo and it’s vital for your business to keep up with the steady beat of this drum. By properly utilizing social media profiles, your company can establish a rhythm and begin to tap into markets with customers that may have been previously unreachable or disinterested. Rather than giving the spiel of why a social presence is critical, this article aims to teach businesses how to manage these profiles with accuracy.

These social media platforms dominate the culture in which we live today. Many older, more traditional forms of marketing, such as newspapers or phonebooks, have become outdated. As a result business owners have turned their attentions to building their brands via social media. The ways to take advantages of these outlets are endless and the results can be perpetual.

To properly manage a social media page, a manager must know how to reflect a company’s brand so that they may connect with their target audience. By pinpointing a target demographic you can post more effectively and cater to consumer appetites. The more profiles a business has, the more likely it is to reach a larger audience. However, there are various differences among these social media channels to take into consideration.

Let’s start with the granddaddy of social media, Facebook. Facebook is a free marketing tool that can give your business a voice. It should contain your company’s website, location and all other contact information. Each Facebook page is indexed by Google and by loading your description with key words that reflect your company’s brand, your page will be more discoverable via Google searches. Facebook should be a fun, informative environment. Anything relevant that might capture the attention of your target audience should be posted. You’ll want to include fun posts that promote dialogue and ideally get shared by other users, extending the reach of your page. Facebook offers a Boost and Promote feature that gives managers the option to disseminate a post. This enhances the chance of your post appearing on a user’s news feed. Managers can pinpoint demographic features like age, gender as well as users interests to ensure that their post gets to where it needs to be. This is a paid feature and accordingly, the more you pay, the more people your post will reach.

Twitter is the other old-timer in the social media realm. This Titan has challenged Facebook and created a healthy competition by presenting a new angle of attack for users. Twitter limits the amount of characters to 140 per post, making for a sphere of declarative sentences. The Hash-tag was an innovative idea that really excelled Twitter going forward during a time that Facebook seemingly had a monopoly on social media. This feature allows for any users tweet to trend and be discoverable through searches of that hash-tag. Now businesses can create a tweet, insert a hash-tag and reach any user that is interested in that conversation. This promotional feature is free and should be utilized as much as possible, especially due to the short life span of tweets. About 92% of engagement will happen within the first hour of the tweet.  This gives page managers the ability to post more often without having an overkill of posts. Knowing when to tweet is also another factor for these managers to weigh in on. A study by @DanZarrella discovered that the best time of the week is Wednesday around 5 pm, but given the short lifespan, any week day is a good day to tweet.

These two trailblazers cleared the path for new social media platforms like Instagram, Pinterest, Linked-In, Tumblr just to name a few. Sometimes it can be difficult in deciding if adding these platforms to your business is necessary and beneficial. The simple answer is yes. Someone out there is always interested and though it may seem futile, these pages can still be productive no matter how striking your product may or may not be.

Due to the rise in variations of social media profiles, more companies have begun to hire designated social media strategists. This decision can ease the pressure off of business owners who may not have the time or the savviness to properly manage these accounts.

A good social media manager is someone who thinks outside the box. You’ll want them to be able to write and post creatively so that your brand is reflected in a unique way. These managers should be attentive to growing trends and current events so that your page adapts to what’s relevant. By being able to provide real-time responses, these managers can make your business more devoted to the community. This is especially crucial for smaller businesses that advertise local events, keeping the public engaged through your page. Large companies that receive a lot of traffic will likely require of team of social media strategists that can focus on the different aspects of all pages and profiles. Scheduled posts can be administered to simplify the process for operators of these busy pages.

For smaller businesses with stretched budgets, deciding if it’s worth hiring this position can seem like a big leap.

About 71% of social media managers have between 1-4 years of experience, 62% are female and the average salary range lies between $34,000 and $56,000. Given this
data, many of these candidates are young and eager to prove themselves. If you decide to hire someone, make sure they understand how you want your brand reflected. Lay out guidelines of their duties and what you expect from them. It may take some time to build a profile and that’s okay. Too much too quick is not the solution for building a following. Having said that, you want your page active in order to cast a net out and reel in more followers. Over time you can track your page results as each platform you use has its own analytics in place to track the effectiveness of your profile. Important factors to track on your page or post are- reach, views, likes (favorites), shares (retweets) and added friends or followers. By having fiscal results presented to you, it becomes easier to determine whether it makes sense financially for you to employ this position going forward.

Whether you decide to work social media yourself or hire someone else, your company should have a tenacious social presence. With new species of platforms constantly arising, there is no point in putting your company at risk for social extinction.

Written by, Ryan Shearer

webworks89

Wilsey Custom Homes Has Finished Construction on New Responsive Website

For Immediate Release:

Wilmington, NC – 2015 – If there’s one thing that Wilsey Custom Homes understands it’s that construction never stops. They took this approach to the next level by teaming up with the web developers at webworks89 to build a new website that embraces responsive website design. Their new responsive website is as customized as the homes they build throughout the beautiful state of North Carolina.

Wilsey is among the few companies that have capitalized on the growing popularity of Responsive Website Design. By utilizing Content Management Systems (CMS), responsive websites are structured in clear fashion on a wide variety of devices, like smart phones, tablets or laptops. These sites can also include tools that enhance its performance and functioning capabilities. All this combines to make a for a higher quality user experience and in return, Google will list this site above above other related searches. By utilizing Search Engine Optimization tactics, Wilsey has become more discoverable to the public and gained an edge over local competitors.

By working together, Wilsey Custom Homes and WebWorks89 have created a page that covers all the angles for perspective customers on multiple property listings. The HD photography showcases the stunning lay out of these properties and captures the viewer’s attention. Floor plans have also been added to each property listed, giving the viewer a concrete number and stronger understanding of house features. These images and floor plans are crucial in showcasing the professionalism of Wilsey’s work and make them a more likely destination for interested buyers.

Wilsey Custom Homes holds themselves to the highest standards, and these standards are reflected throughout their advanced custom website. Have a glance at their new responsive website and see how they took it to the top.

August 12, 2015 – Wilmington, NC – The web design experts at webworks89 have opened the door for the new frontier of drone commercialization. This leader in digital solutions has become the first company in Wilmington to be granted an exemption from the FAA for licensed commercial drone use.

Over the past year, this all-encompassing digital solutions provider has taken their photography services to the next level by incorporating drone technologies into their platform. These Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) capture stunning images from a birds-eye-view. Ryan Summerfield manages the Virtual Tours production at webworks89, and was recently approved for his Certificate of Authorization (COA) from the Federal Aviation Agency (FAA). His passion for drone technology runs deep and can be traced back to his childhood. Summerfield has applied this passion to his career for the past four years as he has built and piloted UAVs. He is a pioneer in an industry that is relatively untapped; he had this to say on his recent accomplishment, “It shows my willingness to become an asset to the FAA, the NAS, and the overall general safety of the public. The idea is to provide a safer option so customers aren’t forced to use amateur photographers for aerial stills. I’m proud to say that we now offer a professional, licensed and FAA approved service.”

One of the drones that Summerfield and webworks89 currently use is the Phantom 3 Quadcopter that has a 4K camera attached and can be used for aerial photography, videography and commercial production. Summerfield has integrated drone use in a unique way. “Each of the Virtual Tours I shoot is done with UAVs. As a skilled operator, I regularly fly these lightweight drones inside of houses. By flying at a steady height and controlled pace, my tours have a cinematic visual that glide viewers through a property,” said Summerfield. These abilities have made him an extremely valuable asset to webworks89 as they have answered the call for many real estate companies in the Wilmington, NC area.

These past few years the drone industry has grown exponentially and webworks89 looks to apply their services to industries across the board. These drones can have a great impact on Terrain Mapping, monitoring erosion along the eastern seaboard. It could also survey crops for farmers and provide unique angles for cinematographers in the renowned Wilmington film industry. When asked about this growth in expansion, Summerfield said, “Because the UAV field is expanding, there’s been a rise in unexperienced, free-lancers that jeopardize the safety of the public.” Summerfield and webworks89 have always stressed safe, professional UAV use and have now officially applied these ethics by obtaining this FAA Certification license for drone operation.

By becoming the first in flight for commercially licensed drone operation in Wilmington, webworks89 aims to take local businesses to new heights. With innovators like Ryan Summerfield, they are the leading provider for all aerial perspectives.

Photo Credit: Ryan Summerfield

August 6, 2015 – Wilmington, NC – webworks89 looks into the expansion of commercial drone use in North Carolina, and how the resistance it faces can be a benefit and a detriment.

When the Wright Brother’s first took flight off the Outer Banks of North Carolina, many were skeptical of their accomplishment. At the time there was no precedent for a successfully powered flight and people were hesitant to accept that. Ascend a century forward to the expansion of drone technology, and these same sentiments of resistance can be found among the public. Drones or, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), are piloted by built-in computer programs through the control of an on-ground pilot. With a growing infatuation, the public appears to be divided between a sense of fear and intrigue with the recent rise in UAV popularity. Currently there is a lack of federal legal precedent for commercial drone use. This leaves each state the responsibility of forming their own state laws to regulate drone operations within their borders.

North Carolina is the leading producer of tobacco and places a heavy emphasis on many other cash crops. With the vast amounts of agriculture that stretch across the state, drones could be a huge benefit to our farmers. This technology can provide an aerial view making it easier to monitor crops in real-time and address problems swiftly. Measure, a UAV company, has teamed up with PrecisionHawk and the American Farm Bureau to conduct a study over cornfields in Raleigh, NC. This study is geared towards return-on-investment to determine how cost-effect these drones can be. Lia Reich, communications director at PrecisionHawk, said that their services should save farmers an estimated 20 percent on fertilizer and pesticides while simultaneously increase the amount of crop output.

These drones can cater to a wide variety of other commercial industries. According to CEA projections, consumer UAVs will near $130 million in revenue globally in 2015, a 50 percent increase from 2014. Amazon and Google are looking to become pioneers in the delivery service by utilizing UAVs. Amazon has already begun testing their drone services in other countries, many of which have progressive UAV legislation policies. Amazon has been stressing the impact UAVs can have on businesses and the high-quality jobs they could create. An article written by the Pinpoint Resource Group states, “The Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International forecasts that the drone industry will create more than 100,000 new drone jobs and $82 billion in economic impact within the first 10 years they become legal to fly”

With advantages like these, why is there such a resistance facing UAV expansion throughout the Tarheel state? Most of the fear lies within drone operation in denser communities. North Carolina may have a lot of farm land, but it also has a growing population in developing urban areas. With a higher risk of person and property damage, the FAA released guidelines stating: A drone can only weigh up to 55 pounds, the drone must be within visual line of sight (VLOS) of the operator, the drone must remain clear of other aircraft’s, stadiums and is not permitted to fly over any other unauthorized person(s) or properties. UAVs should fly no higher than 500 feet, no faster than 100 miles per hour and must be operated during daytime hours. Operators must submit to section 333 Federal Exemption approval, where their petition for UAV commercial use will be heard by the FAA. Here pilots must prove that they have an understanding of how to operate and maintain their machine safely while proving they have a beneficial reason to use it commercially. Many of these guidelines are still vague and don’t cover the full-spectrum of UAV policy.

New legislation is being proposed in 2016 to further regulate this industry and lay out guidelines for commercial use. Concerns have been raised of government agencies utilizing UAV technology to monitor surveillance on citizens, violating their fourth amendment rights. Under this proposal, state and local law enforcement agencies can conduct drone surveillance if they get a warrant. Any footage shot without a warrant is not admissible in court. Police have the right to use drones to counter terrorist attacks and pursue escaping suspects. Despite these guidelines, North Carolina citizens are likely remain weary of government use until strict laws have been set in place that identify these boundaries concretely.

North Carolina will not likely be the First in Flight on leading UAV commercialization, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. With UAV technology still in its infancy, tweaks and adjustments will continually be made across the board. Hectic air traffic and a large scale population make a slower integration the best solution for the general public. In the meantime, it is imperative that states closely regulate commercial use to take full advantage of UAVs so as the industry takes flight, they can avoid delays.

Hy-Speed Chase 

For Immediate Release:

August 3, 2015 – Wilmington, NC – Hy-Speed Janitorial Cleaning Supplies and Equipment just unveiled a new website that integrates responsive design. This growing trend has raised the stakes for competitive businesses as they look to gain an advantage on one another.

Responsive Website Design utilizes Content Management Systems (CMS), like WordPress, to structure content in a format that can adjust to a wide range of devices. These websites are easy to navigate and function more capably than older, outdated websites. Given these advantages, Google has decided to rank responsive websites above those that are non-responsive, making them more discoverable. This new ranking policy was put into effect by Google as of April 21, 2015. A Wilmington based digital solutions company, webworks89, specializes in responsive website design and worked with Hy-Speed Supplies and Equipment to develop a website that would provide an edge over similar businesses. As time goes on, more business are beginning to realize the importance of responsive website design and its critical impact on their popularity.

When users navigate Hy-Speed’s new website, they will find it easy and informative. Across the top are five tabs that list as Chemical Descriptions & Usage, Office, Restroom & Break Areas, Convenience Stores & Restaurants, Floor Care and Carpet Care respectively.  Each tab has pictures and a pricing for each item that users can “add to their cart” at the click of a button. They’ve also incorporated a search bar at the top to simplify the process. With tools like these at hand, Hy-Speed has a more favorable website that will appear at the top of Google searches for these types of products, especially within the greater Wilmington, NC area.

More companies will begin to adopt responsive website design to catch up, for now Hy-Speed has surged past their competition.

Neighbour Realty Personalizes Their New Responsive Website

For Immediate Release:

Wilmington, NC – 2015 – When choosing real estate agencies, people want knowledgeable and relatable agents representing them. Neighbour Realty of Wilmington, NC, added cutting edge web design to their new website that showcases the many services they have to offer.

Neighbour Realty has roots that spread deep throughout the greater Wilmington area. Their affiliation with companies such as, Vie Construction, illustrate these local roots. Through them, Neighbour Realty can readily provide an in-house source for repairs, improvements and maintenance. With effective marketing strategies that utilize print, internet and social media, Neighbour Realty has all the creative techniques in place for advertising properties. Whether it’s home inspectors, appraisers, engineers, just to name a few, Neighbour has all the connections in place to provide full-service for buyers and sellers alike.

This full-service approach has been integrated into Neighbour Realty’s new responsive website. Responsive websites give a web page the versatility to adjust to different screen sizes on a variety of devices. This design is geared to enhance a websites performance, and starting April 21 of this year, Google has begun to punish older, outdated website and reward new responsive ones. Neighbour Realty teamed up with webworks89, a leading digital solutions provider, to create a page that has as much curb appeal as the properties they work with. Their website is stock piled with useful information about Neighbour Realty’s background and the role they serve in the community. Because they incorporated responsive website design, this new website is bound to be found at the top of any Google search that involves key words like “Wilmington real estate.”

Great real estate companies understand how to personalize their business. When visiting Neighbour Realty’s new website, viewers will see their authentic approach and genuine dedication to the work they do throughout the greater Wilmington community.

July 30, 2015

After a run of 13 years, Microsoft finally took their XP systems off of life support. On April 8, 2014 Microsoft set a devised plan in motion to slowly pull the plug on XP. By doing so they have dis-continued security updates for an estimated 30 percent of the world’s desktops at that time. Microsoft decided to focus on more recent technologies, like Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and Vista, to continually deliver an optimal user experience. Given that so many people use XP systems, many have been hesitant to change during this transition. Since Microsoft stopped doing security updates, all XP users are at a higher risk than users of other Windows systems. This has opened vulnerabilities in XP that puts user information in jeopardy with online hackers.

You don’t want to waste your time and hackers are no different. Hackers will often seek exposed operating systems because they present less of a struggle and are the least time consuming. This increases the threat of cyberattack on all XP systems and is something critical for businesses that use XP operating systems to consider. The amount of retailers that use XP POS (point of sale) systems is an alarming 30 percent. By using XP POS technology, a business is putting itself, and all of their consumers personal information in peril. This also begs the question, should these companies be legally forced to change to the other new age systems if their business can’t protect customer’s credit card information?

Well, retailers using POS systems have an obligation to do so, in accordance with PCI DSS 6.2, which states that all retailers using POS systems must install the most recent security updates. Companies that present a persuasive argument to retain XP-based POS systems may do so by relinquishing controls like web application firewalls, IDS/IPS and patch support and white listing to a third party. It is imperative that a company using XP, run risk assessments and make additions to their overall network security. If a customer has a Microsoft support contract, they will continue to receive anti-malware signatures for all XP system’s, however this has recently came to an end.

After giving an advanced notice, Microsoft finished all of their XP support contracts as of July 2015, making users who are hesitant to change that much more exposed in this susceptible environment. So why are these people so stubborn in their faith with XP? The fact of the matter is that upgrading from a new system can be costly. Most don’t want to pay for a new system and believe they can find ways to make XP work for their purposes. Others might simply comfortable with the familiarity of XP. Whatever their reason may be, they’re limiting themselves as this system is slowly deteriorating.

So let’s say you caved in and decided to cut your ties with XP, what system should you now switch to? We can start with Windows 7. If you’re looking for a system with familiarity to XP, Windows 7 is the choice for you. With the pop-up Start menu in the bottom left corner of home screens, all of the basic functions should be familiar. Launched back in 2009, Windows 7 operating systems have received major upgrades and bug fixes that have led it to become a more refined system than XP or Windows Vista. With less of a learning curve, Windows 7 would be the favorable option for traditionalist users.

Windows 8 has a completely different look. Similar to a smart phone, this operating system is touch screen oriented, users can still operate with a mouse but they may find themselves switching between the two interfaces. The organized app launcher will cover the entire screen, with “Charms” or “Hot Corners” system commands found when you move your move to corners on your screen. If you can get past this new architectural design, there are many buried benefits that lay within Windows 8. With built in virus protection, users aren’t required to buy an antivirus suite. Built in multi-monitor features renders third party software irrelevant in order to operate multiple screens. The task manager on Windows 8 has been refurbished, with a sharper appearance and better way to organize and manage startup programs. Those bold enough to adopt Windows 8 will be using a custom operating system that gives the user the control.

Sometimes you have to let things go, and your relationship with Windows XP has run its course. It’s inevitable that these other operating systems will do the same down the road. For now, it seems clear that Microsoft is putting all of their concentrations into growing these other operating systems. XP will only become more susceptible and there is no point in waiting until your computer crashes to address this issue and choose a new operating system to work with.

Ryan Shearer

[email protected]
www.webworks89.com