MARKETING
Hiring a PHP Developer: Work on Exciting Projects
In today’s digital age, businesses and organizations rely heavily on having a strong online presence. The development of robust web applications and websites has become increasingly important to ensure that customers have a smooth and seamless experience with a business online. PHP developers have become a critical component in the development of web applications and websites. These skilled professionals are responsible for creating, maintaining, and updating backend code that powers websites, ensuring that they run smoothly and efficiently.
Hiring a PHP developer can be a game-changer for your business. Not only can they build robust and scalable applications, but they can also work on exciting projects that push the boundaries of what’s possible with web development. In this article, we’ll explore why hiring a PHP developer can be beneficial, what types of exciting projects they can work on, and what skills you should look for when hiring a PHP developer.
Why Hire a PHP Developer?
They Can Build Complex Applications
PHP is a powerful programming language that can handle complex tasks such as e-commerce transactions, content management systems, and social networks. A skilled PHP developer can build custom applications tailored to your business’s specific needs, providing you with a competitive edge. With their experience and expertise, they can help you build applications that are scalable, secure, and efficient.
They Can Optimize Your Website for Speed
In today’s fast-paced world, no one wants to wait around for a website to load. Slow websites can lead to frustrated users and lost revenue. A PHP developer can optimize your website’s backend code to ensure it runs as efficiently as possible, resulting in faster load times and a better user experience. They can also help you implement caching techniques that reduce server load and improve page loading times.
They Can Integrate Third-Party Services
Many businesses rely on third-party services, such as payment gateways, email marketing tools, and analytics platforms. A PHP developer can seamlessly integrate these services into your website or application, making it easier to manage your online presence. They can also create custom APIs that allow different systems to communicate with each other, providing a more cohesive experience for your customers.
They Can Keep Your Website Secure
With the rise of cyber threats, it’s more important than ever to keep your website secure. A PHP developer can implement best practices for security, such as encryption and secure data storage, to protect your website from attacks. They can also perform regular security audits to identify vulnerabilities and recommend solutions to ensure that your website is always protected.
Exciting Projects for PHP Developers
E-commerce Websites
E-commerce websites are a great opportunity for PHP developers to flex their programming muscles. From building custom shopping carts to integrating payment gateways and shipping providers, there are countless ways for PHP developers to make e-commerce websites more user-friendly and efficient. They can also help you implement advanced features such as one-click ordering, personalized recommendations, and customer loyalty programs.
Content Management Systems
PHP is a popular choice for building content management systems (CMS), such as WordPress and Drupal. A PHP developer can create custom plugins and themes, optimize the codebase for speed and security, and integrate third-party services to make your CMS more powerful and flexible. With their expertise, they can help you build a CMS that meets your specific needs and provides a seamless experience for your users.
Social Networks
Social networks are some of the most complex applications on the web. PHP developers can build custom social networks that connect users, allow them to share content, and facilitate conversations. With the right skills and expertise, a PHP developer can create a social network that rivals Facebook or Twitter. They can also help you implement advanced features such as chatbots, user-generated content, and machine learning algorithms.
Mobile Applications
PHP is also a popular choice for building mobile applications, particularly those that require a backend server. A PHP developer can create custom APIs and web services that power your mobile application, providing a seamless experience for your users. They can also help you implement push notifications, in-app purchases, and other advanced features that make your mobile application stand out from the crowd.
Skills to Look for When Hiring a PHP Developer
Proficiency in PHP
First and foremost, a PHP developer should have a strong understanding of PHP and its core concepts. They should be familiar with PHP frameworks such as Laravel, Symfony, and CodeIgniter and have experience working with databases such as MySQL and PostgreSQL.
Familiarity with Frontend Technologies
While PHP developers primarily work on backend code, they should also have a basic understanding of frontend technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This allows them to work more effectively with frontend developers and ensure that the backend and frontend of your website or application are integrated seamlessly.
Knowledge of Security Best Practices
As mentioned earlier, security is a critical consideration when building web applications and websites. A PHP developer should have a strong understanding of security best practices, including encryption, secure data storage, and vulnerability scanning. They should also be familiar with common attack vectors and know how to protect against them.
Problem-Solving Skills
Web development can be a challenging field, and a PHP developer should be able to solve complex problems and think creatively to find solutions. They should be able to troubleshoot code and identify issues quickly and efficiently.
Communication Skills
Finally, a PHP developer should have strong communication skills. They should be able to work effectively with other members of your team, including designers, frontend developers, and project managers. They should also be able to communicate technical concepts to non-technical stakeholders in a clear and concise manner.
Conclusion
Hiring a PHP developer can be a game-changer for your business. They can build complex applications, optimize your website for speed, integrate third-party services, and keep your website secure. They can also work on exciting projects such as e-commerce websites, content management systems, social networks, and mobile applications. By providing employee appreciation gifts such as bonuses, company swag, or other incentives, you can keep your PHP developer motivated and engaged. When hiring a PHP developer, look for someone with proficiency in PHP, familiarity with frontend technologies, knowledge of security best practices, problem-solving skills, and strong communication skills. With the right PHP developer on your team, you can take your online presence to the next level and stay ahead of the competition.
MARKETING
YouTube Ad Specs, Sizes, and Examples [2024 Update]
Introduction
With billions of users each month, YouTube is the world’s second largest search engine and top website for video content. This makes it a great place for advertising. To succeed, advertisers need to follow the correct YouTube ad specifications. These rules help your ad reach more viewers, increasing the chance of gaining new customers and boosting brand awareness.
Types of YouTube Ads
Video Ads
- Description: These play before, during, or after a YouTube video on computers or mobile devices.
- Types:
- In-stream ads: Can be skippable or non-skippable.
- Bumper ads: Non-skippable, short ads that play before, during, or after a video.
Display Ads
- Description: These appear in different spots on YouTube and usually use text or static images.
- Note: YouTube does not support display image ads directly on its app, but these can be targeted to YouTube.com through Google Display Network (GDN).
Companion Banners
- Description: Appears to the right of the YouTube player on desktop.
- Requirement: Must be purchased alongside In-stream ads, Bumper ads, or In-feed ads.
In-feed Ads
- Description: Resemble videos with images, headlines, and text. They link to a public or unlisted YouTube video.
Outstream Ads
- Description: Mobile-only video ads that play outside of YouTube, on websites and apps within the Google video partner network.
Masthead Ads
- Description: Premium, high-visibility banner ads displayed at the top of the YouTube homepage for both desktop and mobile users.
YouTube Ad Specs by Type
Skippable In-stream Video Ads
- Placement: Before, during, or after a YouTube video.
- Resolution:
- Horizontal: 1920 x 1080px
- Vertical: 1080 x 1920px
- Square: 1080 x 1080px
- Aspect Ratio:
- Horizontal: 16:9
- Vertical: 9:16
- Square: 1:1
- Length:
- Awareness: 15-20 seconds
- Consideration: 2-3 minutes
- Action: 15-20 seconds
Non-skippable In-stream Video Ads
- Description: Must be watched completely before the main video.
- Length: 15 seconds (or 20 seconds in certain markets).
- Resolution:
- Horizontal: 1920 x 1080px
- Vertical: 1080 x 1920px
- Square: 1080 x 1080px
- Aspect Ratio:
- Horizontal: 16:9
- Vertical: 9:16
- Square: 1:1
Bumper Ads
- Length: Maximum 6 seconds.
- File Format: MP4, Quicktime, AVI, ASF, Windows Media, or MPEG.
- Resolution:
- Horizontal: 640 x 360px
- Vertical: 480 x 360px
In-feed Ads
- Description: Show alongside YouTube content, like search results or the Home feed.
- Resolution:
- Horizontal: 1920 x 1080px
- Vertical: 1080 x 1920px
- Square: 1080 x 1080px
- Aspect Ratio:
- Horizontal: 16:9
- Square: 1:1
- Length:
- Awareness: 15-20 seconds
- Consideration: 2-3 minutes
- Headline/Description:
- Headline: Up to 2 lines, 40 characters per line
- Description: Up to 2 lines, 35 characters per line
Display Ads
- Description: Static images or animated media that appear on YouTube next to video suggestions, in search results, or on the homepage.
- Image Size: 300×60 pixels.
- File Type: GIF, JPG, PNG.
- File Size: Max 150KB.
- Max Animation Length: 30 seconds.
Outstream Ads
- Description: Mobile-only video ads that appear on websites and apps within the Google video partner network, not on YouTube itself.
- Logo Specs:
- Square: 1:1 (200 x 200px).
- File Type: JPG, GIF, PNG.
- Max Size: 200KB.
Masthead Ads
- Description: High-visibility ads at the top of the YouTube homepage.
- Resolution: 1920 x 1080 or higher.
- File Type: JPG or PNG (without transparency).
Conclusion
YouTube offers a variety of ad formats to reach audiences effectively in 2024. Whether you want to build brand awareness, drive conversions, or target specific demographics, YouTube provides a dynamic platform for your advertising needs. Always follow Google’s advertising policies and the technical ad specs to ensure your ads perform their best. Ready to start using YouTube ads? Contact us today to get started!
MARKETING
Why We Are Always ‘Clicking to Buy’, According to Psychologists
Amazon pillows.
MARKETING
A deeper dive into data, personalization and Copilots
Salesforce launched a collection of new, generative AI-related products at Connections in Chicago this week. They included new Einstein Copilots for marketers and merchants and Einstein Personalization.
To better understand, not only the potential impact of the new products, but the evolving Salesforce architecture, we sat down with Bobby Jania, CMO, Marketing Cloud.
Dig deeper: Salesforce piles on the Einstein Copilots
Salesforce’s evolving architecture
It’s hard to deny that Salesforce likes coming up with new names for platforms and products (what happened to Customer 360?) and this can sometimes make the observer wonder if something is brand new, or old but with a brand new name. In particular, what exactly is Einstein 1 and how is it related to Salesforce Data Cloud?
“Data Cloud is built on the Einstein 1 platform,” Jania explained. “The Einstein 1 platform is our entire Salesforce platform and that includes products like Sales Cloud, Service Cloud — that it includes the original idea of Salesforce not just being in the cloud, but being multi-tenancy.”
Data Cloud — not an acquisition, of course — was built natively on that platform. It was the first product built on Hyperforce, Salesforce’s new cloud infrastructure architecture. “Since Data Cloud was on what we now call the Einstein 1 platform from Day One, it has always natively connected to, and been able to read anything in Sales Cloud, Service Cloud [and so on]. On top of that, we can now bring in, not only structured but unstructured data.”
That’s a significant progression from the position, several years ago, when Salesforce had stitched together a platform around various acquisitions (ExactTarget, for example) that didn’t necessarily talk to each other.
“At times, what we would do is have a kind of behind-the-scenes flow where data from one product could be moved into another product,” said Jania, “but in many of those cases the data would then be in both, whereas now the data is in Data Cloud. Tableau will run natively off Data Cloud; Commerce Cloud, Service Cloud, Marketing Cloud — they’re all going to the same operational customer profile.” They’re not copying the data from Data Cloud, Jania confirmed.
Another thing to know is tit’s possible for Salesforce customers to import their own datasets into Data Cloud. “We wanted to create a federated data model,” said Jania. “If you’re using Snowflake, for example, we more or less virtually sit on your data lake. The value we add is that we will look at all your data and help you form these operational customer profiles.”
Let’s learn more about Einstein Copilot
“Copilot means that I have an assistant with me in the tool where I need to be working that contextually knows what I am trying to do and helps me at every step of the process,” Jania said.
For marketers, this might begin with a campaign brief developed with Copilot’s assistance, the identification of an audience based on the brief, and then the development of email or other content. “What’s really cool is the idea of Einstein Studio where our customers will create actions [for Copilot] that we hadn’t even thought about.”
Here’s a key insight (back to nomenclature). We reported on Copilot for markets, Copilot for merchants, Copilot for shoppers. It turns out, however, that there is just one Copilot, Einstein Copilot, and these are use cases. “There’s just one Copilot, we just add these for a little clarity; we’re going to talk about marketing use cases, about shoppers’ use cases. These are actions for the marketing use cases we built out of the box; you can build your own.”
It’s surely going to take a little time for marketers to learn to work easily with Copilot. “There’s always time for adoption,” Jania agreed. “What is directly connected with this is, this is my ninth Connections and this one has the most hands-on training that I’ve seen since 2014 — and a lot of that is getting people using Data Cloud, using these tools rather than just being given a demo.”
What’s new about Einstein Personalization
Salesforce Einstein has been around since 2016 and many of the use cases seem to have involved personalization in various forms. What’s new?
“Einstein Personalization is a real-time decision engine and it’s going to choose next-best-action, next-best-offer. What is new is that it’s a service now that runs natively on top of Data Cloud.” A lot of real-time decision engines need their own set of data that might actually be a subset of data. “Einstein Personalization is going to look holistically at a customer and recommend a next-best-action that could be natively surfaced in Service Cloud, Sales Cloud or Marketing Cloud.”
Finally, trust
One feature of the presentations at Connections was the reassurance that, although public LLMs like ChatGPT could be selected for application to customer data, none of that data would be retained by the LLMs. Is this just a matter of written agreements? No, not just that, said Jania.
“In the Einstein Trust Layer, all of the data, when it connects to an LLM, runs through our gateway. If there was a prompt that had personally identifiable information — a credit card number, an email address — at a mimum, all that is stripped out. The LLMs do not store the output; we store the output for auditing back in Salesforce. Any output that comes back through our gateway is logged in our system; it runs through a toxicity model; and only at the end do we put PII data back into the answer. There are real pieces beyond a handshake that this data is safe.”
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