Have you ever tried asking your search engine something to no avail? With many of us facing this problem, Bing has been updated with four new features that give users more thorough answers and enable it to respond to broader search terms. Validating answers using many websites Before the recent update, Bing would answer questions based on what it found on a single website. Now, it scours several sites and aggregates results before replying to your query. For questions that have two different perspectives, answers from both sides will be compiled and displayed at the top of the search page. A compilation of answers will also be given for questions with numerous answers. Analogies Have you ever gotten an answer you couldn’t comprehend? Search engines have a relatively easy time finding answers, but they don’t always display the simplest ones. For example, knowing that Syria is 71,498 square miles isn't the same as learning that Syria is approximately as big as Florida, but depending on where you live one is much better than the other. With Bing now providing relevant analogies and comparisons, information has become easier to understand. Answers are based on things search engine users are familiar with, making the search experience far more user-friendly and empathetic. Clarifying questions Bing is now able to provide a more specific answer when being asked broad or conversational questions. To accomplish this, the search engine will ask the user follow-up questions to refine search results. Microsoft has also an advanced image search, which allows users to search based on specific objects within images. For example, if you wish to purchase a shirt you saw in a picture, Bing’s advanced image search allows you to select it and locate a store that sells it. Partnering with Reddit Bing has also partnered with Reddit to display information from its threads to Bing’s search page. What this means for users is that certain topics in Reddit or subreddits can be searched through Bing search. Answers found in the site will also be displayed on the search page. With these four new features in Bing, searching for your answers has never been easier. To find out more about other web and cloud services, give Multi IT a call today on 011 435 0450.

Google has recently modified their search results to display ratings from review sites like Facebook and Yelp. While this may seem like a small change, it has actually made reviews more important than ever in terms of SEO. With the following tips, your company can shine in the Google search results. How Google changed search results Google’s new search algorithm is designed to lead people to high-quality products and services. For instance, if you search "Acme Group Inc.", Google will show you something called a Knowledge Panel. Displayed on the right side of the search results, this panel includes information like address, hours, web address and more. Over the last year, Google has been automatically aggregating and including online reviews to display in the Knowledge Panel. Which review sites does Google include? Relevant sites vary from industry to industry, so if you manage a restaurant, reviews from Yelp or Zagat will likely be displayed next to your online listings. If your business is a bit more niche, however, there are a few steps to determine which review sites affect you. Go to Google and search for the following: “[your company name] reviews” - to locate sites that already have reviews on your business “[industry] reviews” - to determine industry review sites that you should be listed on “[industry + location] reviews” - to find review boards where you can boost your local presence Then, record all the review sites you found on the first page of each search query and categorize them based on their search ranking and the current rating your company has on them. Once you’ve produced a comprehensive list, write down an objective for each review site. This can range from getting listed on the site to improving your rating. To narrow it down even further, focus your review generating efforts on the five most popular websites on your list, especially any that include disappointing reviews. Getting reviews Of course, all this doesn’t matter if people aren’t writing reviews about your products and services. With that in mind, here are a few strategies that encourage people to rave about your business. 1. Send follow-up emails After a customer has made a purchase, it’s a good idea to send a thank you email that includes a request to review your service. 2. Simplify the review process Many customers opt to skip writing a review because there are too many steps to express their opinion. Simplify this process by having a review site already opened on your smart tablet and asking your customers to comment on your service before they leave your venue. 3. Offer rewards for reviews Another way to encourage people to rate your business is by presenting them with a chance to win free goods or services if they submit a review. Though there’s a lot of steps involved in managing your online reputation, starting early will enhance your SEO, attract new customers, and improve your bottom line. If you need more advice on climbing up Google’s search rankings or tips on social media management, Multi IT today on 011 435 0450.

As the world’s most popular productivity suite, Microsoft Office tends to receive much attention from cybercriminals. Generally, hackers embed malware in authentic Office files to trick users into unleashing it onto their machines. However, the most recent exploit proves to be much more dangerous than any Office hack we’ve seen. What’s the new Office threat? The Office exploit takes advantage of Microsoft’s Dynamic Data Exchange (DDE), a protocol that sends messages and data between applications. For example, DDE can be used to automatically update a table in a Word document with data collected in an Excel spreadsheet. The problem with this is hackers can create DDE-enabled documents that link to malicious sources rather than to other Office apps. Theoretically, this allows hackers to launch scripts that download Trojan viruses from the internet and execute it before the user is even aware of the attack. And unlike most malware-embedded Office files, which are usually blocked by security protocols from Microsoft, DDE exploits are instant. Once a compromised Word file is opened, it automatically executes the hack. Outlook at risk What’s even more alarming are the DDE vulnerabilities in Outlook. Recent reports found that hackers can embed malicious code in the body of an email or calendar invite, allowing them to perform phishing scams without a file attachment. Fortunately, Outlook DDE attacks are not as automated as Word or Excel DDE attacks. Two dialog boxes will usually appear when you open the email asking if you want to update a document with data from linked files and start a specific application. Simply clicking ‘No’ on either of these boxes will stop the attack from executing. Defending against DDE attacks Beyond saying no, you can protect yourself by following these security best practices: Evaluate the authenticity of unsolicited emails before interacting with them and don’t open attachments from unfamiliar contacts. View emails in plain text format to completely stop DDE attacks embedded directly in emails from running. Note that this will also disable all original formatting, colors, images, and buttons. Use a strong email security system that prevents phishing emails, spam, and other unwanted messages from reaching your inbox. Get in the habit of checking for Microsoft updates, as they're usually quick to release patches after vulnerabilities have been discovered. Last but not least, consider working with our team. We’re Microsoft Office experts who can keep you safe from the latest threats. Call Multi IT today on 011 435 0450 to get started!