A cookieless Web Analytics tool for Ecommerce and SaaS Marketers that need the source data behind each conversion to make decisions.

SEAL Metrics

While full homomorphic encryption (FHE) was originally achieved in 2009, it's starting to receive more attention now that computing power has caught up to its computational demands; however, the goal of homomorphic encryption goes back a decade. A cursory search will find multiple definitions for it. This is the most direct and succinct: A form of encryption that allows computation on ciphertexts generating an encrypted result that, when decrypted, matches the result of the operations as if they had been performed on plaintext. — Massimo Bertaccini ( ) Cryptography Algorithms Consider that statement for a moment. Homomorphic encryption enables operations to be performed on encrypted values such that the decrypted results produce the result of the operations as though they were performed on the original unencrypted values. The earliest mention I found is (1978) in which the authors are attempting to prevent sensitive financial data stored in an on-premise system from being accessed by system programmers using a remote time-sharing service. On Data Banks and Privacy Homomorphisms Sensitive financial data is stored in the data bank. Time-sharing services that compute the data do not implement adequate security. System programmers have access to financial data. The paper states: Use a special privacy homomorphism to encrypt its data so that the time-share computer can operate on the data without the necessity of decrypting it first. To put it another way, I want to delete the of my data without giving away to it. processing access To put it another yet another way, function(A, B) = function (A ) where A are encrypted values of A and B, respectively. This enables third parties to compute encrypted data and provide the results without having any knowledge of the original value. With RSA, two values encrypted with the same key can be multiplied, and the product can be decrypted yielding the product of the encrypted values. , B &nbsp;and B Obtain 5_6 using RSA(5)_ RSA(6): RSA(5) = (5^17) mod 3233 = 3096 RSA(6) = (6^17) mod 3233 = 824 3096*824 = 254864 RSA^-1(254864) = 254864^2753 (mod 3233) = 30 5*6 = 30 However, this does not work for addition. RSA is a Partially Homomorphic Encryption (PHE) scheme in that it supports only multiplication. The timeline below shows the progression from (PHE) schemes through Somewhat Homomorphic Encryption (SHWE) which permits limited combinations of addition and multiplication. These operations could be repeated up to five times before reaching an invalid result. Then along came the first FHE scheme from which enabled repeated addition and multiplication without fidelity loss. Craig Gentry Homomorphic Encryption Libraries Since 2009, FHE schemes and libraries have proliferated. Library Schemes Language License Microsoft SEAL BFV, BGV, CKKS C++/C# Wrapper MIT Open FHE BFV, BGV, CKKS, DM, CGGI C++ BSD 2-Clause License HEAAN CKKS C++ Creative Commons 3.0 TFHE TFHE (Torus) Rust BSD-3-Clause-Clear Concrete TFHE Rust BSD-3-Clause-Clear Lattigo BFV, BGV, CKKS Go Apache 2.0 Intel Homomorphic Encryption Toolkit N/A – Uses SEAL, PALISADE, HLib Python,Docker Apache 2.0 Microsoft SEAL (Simple Encrypted Arithmetic Library) is developed in C++ 17 along with a C# wrapper. Originally released in 2015, it is still under active development. The includes that should be explored if you are interested in diving further. github repo in-depth C# examples These schemes are supported by SEAL and include homomorphic operations for addition, division, subtractions, and exponentiation, but not division. Brakerski-Gentry-Vaikuntanathan (BGV)/Fan-Vercauteren (BFV) Whole numbers (long) Use if precision is a requirement Computation is slower than CKKS Values encrypted with BGV can be used with values encrypted with BFV Values encrypted with BGV/BVF cannot be used with values encrypted with CKKS Revisiting Homomorphic Encryption Schemes for Finite Fields Cheon-Kim-Kim-Song (CKKS) Floating points (double) Use if precision is not required Values encrypted with CKKS cannot be used with values encrypted with BGV/BFV Computation is faster than BFV/BGF Encryption and Computation with Microsoft SEAL These examples use the Nuget package and the CKKS scheme. Health trackers, like FitBit and AppleHeath, require giving up some privacy. They collect personal information like the number of steps and geocoordinates of the wearer's movements, heartbeat frequency, and other vital statistics. With homomorphic encryption, these health metric aggregators can still operate on our data without having access to the raw data. Microsoft.Research.SEALNet In this simple example, the client sends run metrics including distance and time. The server aggregates the encrypted data and computes the average speed. To get started, a public key is created by the client and shared with the server. It is used to encrypt data and also to perform arithmetic operations on encrypted data. Both client and server use an The client generates and retains a private key used for decryption used by the aptly named . Encryptor. Decryptor A malicious party that intercepts the data could use the public key on the encrypted data and return it to the caller by spoofing the server. The server should sign the result and the client should verify the signature to ensure it's being returned from a trusted party. using Microsoft.Research.SEAL;
protected SEALContext _context;
private KeyGenerator _keyGenerator;
private Encryptor _encryptor;
private Decryptor _decryptor;
protected IFitnessTrackerApiClient _apiClient;
. . .
_context = SEALUtils.GetContext(_config.Value.PolyModulusDegree, this.SchemeType);

_keyGenerator = new KeyGenerator(_context);

_keyGenerator.CreatePublicKey(out PublicKey publicKey);
_keyGenerator.CreateRelinKeys(out RelinKeys relinKeys);

_encryptor = new Encryptor(_context, _publicKey);
_decryptor = new Decryptor(_context, _keyGenerator.SecretKey);
. . .
PublicKeyModelCKKS keyModelCKKS = new(
  SEALUtils.KeyToBase64String(_publicKey), 
  SEALUtils.KeyToBase64String(relinKeys));
    await _apiClient.SendPublicKeyCKKSAsync(keyModelCKKS); Relinearization keys are passed from client to server. Per Microsoft SEAL, they have no semantic meaning other than to reduce the size of following a multiplication operation. Ciphertext At the command line, the user enters time and distance. Each value is encoded to then encrypted to , and finally encoded to base64 prior to sending it to the server. PlainText, Ciphertext using Microsoft.Research.SEAL;
var plaintext = new Plaintext();
_encoder.Encode(value, _scale, plaintext);

var ciphertext = new Ciphertext();
_encryptor.Encrypt(value, ciphertext);

using (var ms = new MemoryStream())
{
  ciphertext.Save(ms);
  return Convert.ToBase64String(ms.ToArray());
} Since homomorphic encryption schemes don't support division (CKKS is no exception), the client needs to give the server an assist. The formula for speed is: distance/time Another way to write it is, distance * (1/time) So, the client sends: RunItemCKKS metricsRequest = new(
  EncryptBase64(runItem.Distance), 
  EncryptBase64(runItem.Time), 
  EncryptBase64(1 / runItem.Time));

await _apiClient.AddNewRunningDistanceCKKSAsync(metricsRequest); The server performs a similar bootstrapping function creating a using only the public key and re-linearization keys, then processes the request: SEALContext var distance = SEALUtils.BuildCiphertextFromBase64String(request.Distance, _sealContext);
var time = SEALUtils.BuildCiphertextFromBase64String(request.Time, _sealContext);
var timeReciprocal = SEALUtils.BuildCiphertextFromBase64String(request.TimeReciprocal, _sealContext);
Ciphertext speed = new();

_evaluator.Multiply(distance, timeReciprocal, speed);
_evaluator.RelinearizeInplace(speed, _relinKeys);

_runListCKKS.Add(new EncryptedRunInfoCKKS(distance, time, speed)); A reciprocal of the time is used to calculate the speed for the submitted run and the method reduces the size of the resulting Distance, time, and speed are saved to an in-memory RelinearizeInplace Ciphertext. List. The method aggregates the list and returns: GetMetrics total number of runs total distance total time average speed public SummaryItemCKKS GetMetrics()
{
int count = _runListCKKS.Count;

var totalDistanceCKKS = SumEncryptedValues(_runListCKKS.Select(m => m.Distance));
var totalTimeCKKS = SumEncryptedValues(_runListCKKS.Select(m => m.Time));
var totalSpeed = SumEncryptedValues(_runListCKKS.Select(m => m.Speed));
. . .
protected Ciphertext SumEncryptedValues(IEnumerable<Ciphertext> encryptedData)
{
. . .
Ciphertext encTotal = new();
_evaluator.AddMany(encryptedData, encTotal);
return encTotal;
. . .
} To get the average speed, the reciprocal of the count is used, so rather than using: (sum of speed)/number or runs we use: (sum of speed) * (1/number of runs) Since the server keeps track of the number of run submissions, the total number of runs is not an encrypted value. That unencrypted value can be converted to and used in an operation performed on While this is a simple example, the implications are worth noting. The server can provide additional values used on encrypted data enabling third-party providers to apply proprietary data to computations against customer-provided encrypted data. Plaintext Ciphertext. In the example below, the total count is converted to a reciprocal and added to a CKKS operations expect encrypted list values, even if the list only contains a single value. So, the is encoded to a . The multiplies totalSpeed by (1/number of runs) resulting in the average speed. To conserve space, the result is applied to the totalSpeed and the re-linearization keys reduce the size of the output. List<double>. List<double> PlainText MultiplyPlainInplace Ciphertext Plaintext encodedCountReciprocal = new();
List<double> averagePaceList = new();
double runCountReciprocal = 1 / (double)count;
averagePaceList.Add(runCountReciprocal);
_encoder.Encode(averagePaceList, _scale, encodedCountReciprocal);
        
_evaluator.MultiplyPlainInplace(totalSpeed, encodedCountReciprocal);
_evaluator.RelinearizeInplace(totalSpeed, _relinKeys); The values are base64 encoded, returned, and decrypted on the client. The client takes the additional step of converting decrypted to . Plaintext List<double> var payload = Convert.FromBase64String(encryptedDistanceText);

using var ms = new MemoryStream(payload);
var ciphertext = new Ciphertext();
ciphertext.Load(_context, ms);

var decryptedText = new Plaintext();
_decryptor.Decrypt(cypherText, decryptedText);

List<double> distanceList = new();
_encoder.Decode(decryptedText, distanceList); Sending the following values yields totals and the average pace calculated by a service that tabulated the total and average without decrypting data sent from the client. Miles Time 2.5 0:35:32.643 2.2 0:32:48.826 2.8 0:34:52.036 The server computes the data and returns the total runs, distance, time, and pace without decrypting any of the data sent. Summary Microsoft SEAL is a Microsoft Research project and is not ready for a production application. All classes implement and used unmanaged resources. Production code would need to protect against a memory leak. The class does not follow the single responsibility principle. It includes methods for both BGV/BVF and CKKS. Further, CKKS supports vector operations, but not vector addition. A single can be encrypted to a single but there is no means of summing the values in a single It can be done with , but that is a suboptimal solution. IDisposable SEALContext List<double> CipherText CipherText. vector rotation This Fitness Tracker code sample is a simple introduction to a complex topic.  There are a number of compelling use cases with more involved logic: Gene marker detection Biometric template protection Secure human monitoring for aging in place Credit card fraud detection Homomorphic encryption has largely been used in academia and in prototypes. Practical applications have been limited by the computing power required by homomorphic encryption schemes. GPU acceleration and ASIC processors will continue to erode this barrier. Intel is developing the , purpose-built for homomorphic encrypt schemes, in collaboration with Microsoft and DARPA. NASDAQ is also funding with machine learning for fraud detection. The FHE.org community is an excellent resource for the most current developments in this space. It has an active . FHE Hardware Accelerator an R&D project using homomorphic encryption Discord server All code samples in this article are available at . For more in-depth Microsoft SEAL example, see these . johniwasz/microsoft-seal-samples .NET examples Also published here.

Microsoft SEAL and the Dawn of Homomorphic Encryption 

Microsoft SEAL y el amanecer del cifrado homomórfico

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Microsoft SEAL और होमोमोर्फिक एन्क्रिप्शन का डॉन

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Microsoft SEAL và Bình minh của Mã hóa Đồng hình

Microsoft SEAL 和同态加密的黎明

71% of Millennials and 79% of Generation Z in the U.S. admit to feeling lonely. 60% of Tinder users say the same. NFT vows, social connections in the metaverse, the harm of loneliness, and what the heck do dating apps have to do with it. Startup waka shares trends in user behavior. Last waka-updates Waka is a mini-application for gamified dating inside of the Telegram messenger. We help people find friends based on their interests and preferences - meme swipes, horoscopes, personality tests, anonymous chat mechanics, etc. The product consists of a web application (where all the gamification takes place) and a messenger bot (for authorization and push notifications). We have 50,000 users and in Telegram now. We will launch a discord version in January. you can try waka Features launched in the last 3 months: We built Gamified rooms, 5 of them in total. All the rooms are located in a separate tab - waka fun. Swipes are gone, now we help people find friends based on their interests, various contexts, and tests in special "rooms". This is one of the reasons why we call ourselves "anti dating app". Instead of a single visual filter swipes, we give the user more information about a potential friend to turn the matches into real communication. Desktop version. Many people have asked us to add a desktop version, and we've done it. It's not perfect yet, but now waka can be used from a laptop. Since we are not an app, but a mini-app within messengers - we do not need to be downloaded, which significantly affects the cost per registration. We reduced it to $0.16 , which is really good compared to the traditional dating apps. Why rooms are better than swipes Our anti-dating approach is reflected in metrics as well. Users who come to the rooms show higher retention (metric of users returning on different days) than those who use swipes. N-day retention of users on 1/7/30 day (percentage of users who returned to the app on a particular day): With each new room, metrics for the entire product grow, because people like the feeling of novelty. With the introduction of the first meme room, the 1-day retention of the entire product increased by 6%. When we made 4 rooms, we moved the room screen to the first screen so the user could see it right away. In November we launched a room with horoscopes and a hate room matching people based on a quiz, which identifies what is annoying for the user, and just a couple of days ago we launched a personality test room. You take a test to find out your personality type and get a connection with a relevant person; we developed it together with a psychologist. It is too early to draw conclusions about the metrics in the new rooms the sample is too small, preliminary 1/7/30 day retention is like that: Horoscope room ― 40% / 22,9% / 17,4% Room “hate it!” ― 30,7% / 10,8% / not enough data yet. Let's move on to what we will do in the future and which trends in user behavior we will consider in 2022. How the Metaverse Changes People, and why it's not about VR: What it has to do with us Even though many still think that the metaverse is a complete transition to a VR/AR space where everyone communicates exclusively through glasses, I don't think that's true. Our team likes the position that the metaverse is not about moving everything into VR, but about superposition, about intersecting the physical and digital worlds in good products today and in almost any product in the near future. Don't tell me that you don't live on the Internet! Watch this video where - he's used to everything being interactive. the child wants to swipe a regular paper magazine ** These numbers have increased over the past two years, also because of Covid. People are getting more and more submerged into the online world, and it's making a big difference in their behavior. Virtual Worlds are now becoming the 3rd place in a person's life, after Home and Work ARK Invest that in the next 5 years, the average time spent on video games should increase from 1.1 hours to 1.5 hours per person per day. The percentage of in-game purchases will increase from $130 billion in 2020 to $350 billion by 2025. Gaming is becoming the 3rd place in a person's life, after home and work. When I say online gaming, I also mean metaverse, and here is why. predicts The concept of the metaverse is influenced by other technologies such as 5G. Wireless research and development company Qualcomm the impact of this technology on the global economy at $13.1 trillion and 22.8 million jobs by 2035. Telecom-operator companies that are installing 5G towers realize that they can't recoup their costs. But they from the additional services that will arise due to the high speed of data transfer. These services are closely related to the metaverse. estimates can get the biggest profits For example, SK Telecom, South Korea's leading telecom operator, has launched , a platform "that allows users to communicate in different virtual environments using avatars”. Ifland People Prefer Virtual Worlds for Socialization Now let's see how the domain of dating apps fits into the metaverse industry (and it fits very well). People willingly go to the metaverse, first of all, for socialization. More and more teenagers choose online games not so much to have fun, but to socialize. Any game designer or product designer will confirm that adding socialization to games adds retention = user engagement to the game. Recently Fortnite <the battle royale game> introduced " " - peaceful maps. Interestingly, in a game where you have to shoot and kill, a completely different mechanic arises - mini-games and communication with people. Fortnite and Epic Games (the company that developed the game) are considered one of the possible leaders of the emerging industry. Party worlds Zoomers and Millennials are Lonelier than Anyone We are developing our app based on research of the US market, because that is our target market. Here's what the . Survey Center on American Life found out In the 1990s, 3% of Americans had no friends - now it's 12%.  Also at that time 33% of Americans had 10 or more friends - now only 13% have so many friends. Another striking statistic is that today one in five Millennials have no friends at all! The pandemic contributed to this problem. Many people have lost their friends, especially girls. By the way, there are fewer females in dating apps than males, but not in waka. According to our data, in traditional dating apps, the ratio of males to females is about 30/70, while in waka 48.5%/50.8% with just under 1% of non-binary people. This is due to our positioning - the app is for finding friends and most users are not only looking for people of the opposite sex. So what are the implications of loneliness? Maybe that's the way it should be? But 71% of Millennials and 79% of Generation Z in the U.S. to feeling lonely. 60% of Tinder users . admit say the same Loners need Oxytocin, and It's in Deep Connection Stanford University professor Robert Malenka in 2016 that strong social ties influence oxytocin production. Oxytocin is a hormone that induces feelings of satisfaction and calm, reducing anxiety. In addition, the release of oxytocin plays a central role in the stimulation of dopamine pathways. What's interesting is that skin contact is not required for the release of oxytocin. So people can communicate in both messengers and in metaverses to feel less lonely. But what matters here is not quantity but quality: deep friendships, romantic relationships, communication between parents and children. Close healthy social connections <including online> are very important to our bodies. proved Single zoomers and millennials are good at sensing how much they need companionship and friendship. On Tinder, for example, there has been a threefold in offers to go roller skating, not just to meet people. The app doesn't have that functionality, so they just write it in the description. People are looking for real communication, they're wondering what they can do together, where they can go. Do dating apps cater to their needs? I wouldn't say so. Quick-matches are more about quick dopamine, the moment of a flashy "Match!" screen, after which nothing happens. increase So the main goal of waka is to enable people to find quality and healthy social interaction, online and offline! Instead of swipes <visual filter elevated to the max we bring people together through micro-personalization - by memes, horoscopes, common contexts, hobbies. This serves as an icebreaker and an additional opportunity to get to know the person as an individual, more likely to turn a match into the conversation. In the future, we plan to create a meta-room with all the important information about the user's personality type and preferences - what memes, movies, the music he likes. And I wouldn't worry about losing some retention in the future. People need more friends than sexual partners. And people will appreciate a product that solves their problem. Legalize relationships in the NFT - why not? Recently, my girlfriend and I made a bet, which we secured with NFT. It turned out to be very easy, it's literally a matter of two clicks. , except it has more value - because the post belongs to Instagram, and the NFT you created belongs to you. It's saved on the blockchain, so no one can delete it. It's very much like an official document. I thought - why not use this technology to secure a connection with another person? Why not make marriage 3.0 using NFT? It looks like an Instagram post NFT technology can turn quick matches into more lasting connections. And it's again about superposition and the crossing of online and offline. My team and I came up with NFT vows. If a person is somewhat significant to you, then why not anchor it and show it in a new, previously unavailable format? We'll soon show our vision in this direction. Unresolved Issues waka is supposed to be a connector for people in different online spaces. We want to connect people where they already are, but don't yet have a user-friendly interface for dating. For now, we are in Telegram, but soon we will be in Discord, Snapchat, and online gaming. And another thing that's definitely coming to waka soon is the constructor. In 2022 we will make templates so that users can create their own quizzes and rooms. Right now we are developing those rooms, but we can see how quickly the creative economy trend is developing - people like to create things themselves. With this, we plan to increase the percentage of matching and improve the quality of connections. We're an indie startup that wants to change the way people meet online, and we can't do that alone. We'd welcome your thoughts in the comments. If you like what we're doing, and for those who want to help us develop the product, we've created a - please join us! Discord community

Dating in the Metaverse? Seal it With an NFT

379 Stories To Learn About Data Privacy

Before we delve into Part 3 on the evolving landscape of virtual selling, let's quickly recap the series so far. emphasized HubSpot's findings on the pivotal role of platforms like Facebook and TikTok, as well as messaging apps in modern marketing. Building off the first section, , based on Vidyard's comprehensive report, revealed that in-house video production is the new norm, with YouTube as the preferred hosting platform for B2Bs. User-Generated Content (UGC) is dominating the video scene, and analytics reveal short videos garner the most engagement while also offering solid ROI. Part 1 part 2 If you haven't already, I encourage you to review Parts 1 and 2. They provide invaluable insights into the current digital trends and challenges that are shaping the sales and marketing sectors, setting the stage for a careful analysis into virtual selling in this final Part 3. 6 Big takeaways from Vidyard's State of Virtual Selling Report Vidyard's "The State of Virtual Selling" draws insights from over 720 validated sales and marketing professionals. The study sheds light on the challenges and opportunities faced by sales professionals in today's digital-first environment. Here's what I found most interesting: report “63% observed an uptick in response rates, and a third felt that these videos expedited their deal cycles… 41% of users witnessed improved close rates” The Changing Dynamics of Buyer Engagement A majority of sales pros are experiencing increasing difficulty in reaching buyers, with extended sales cycles, more touch points needed to seal deals, and an increase in stakeholders participating in the buying process. This aligns with our earlier findings from HubSpot’s report. "Ghosting" has emerged as a persistent challenge, with 42% of salespeople finding it tough to establish or maintain contact with potential customers. A significant 53% felt that reaching or selling to buyers has become more challenging over the past year. The Power of Custom-Recorded Videos Custom-recorded videos are gaining traction, with a majority agreeing that they outperform text-based emails in terms of opens, clicks, and responses. A staggering 88% of sales professionals reported that custom-recorded videos either matched or surpassed the performance of text-based emails. Interestingly, while text emails tend to induce anxiety in recipients, video emails seem to mitigate this effect. In terms of video styles, 26% were selfie-oriented, 20% showcased screen shares, and a majority (54%) combined both elements (hybrid). The Impact of Video on Sales Metrics Custom-recorded videos have proven beneficial for many sales pros: 63% observed an uptick in response rates, and a third felt that these videos expedited their deal cycles. The influence of custom-recorded videos on close rates is also noteworthy: 41% of users witnessed improved close rates, while a mere 5% experienced a decline. An overwhelming 93% of respondents believe that video content either matches or outperforms other content forms in terms of conversion. The Shift in Sales Cycles and Stakeholder Involvement The sales cycle's duration has seen changes, with 80% of participants stating that deals now take over a month to finalize. For half of the respondents, the sales cycle now spans between 4 to 18 months. The number of touch points in the sales process has surged for 57% of sales professionals. The buying process is increasingly collaborative, with a mere 7% selling to a single decision-maker. The majority navigate through 2-to-4 person buying committees, either intra-departmental (30%) or inter-departmental (25%). A significant 40% of sales pros have observed an increase in the number of stakeholders involved in the sales process over the past year. Video Usage and Adoption Trends The adoption of video in business has skyrocketed, marking a 135% increase year-over-year. On average, businesses are now producing 510 new videos annually, marking a 49% surge from the previous year. Vidyard's report underscores the pivotal role of custom-recorded videos in reshaping the virtual selling landscape. As businesses navigate the challenges of extended sales cycles and increased stakeholder involvement, the strategic use of video emerges as a powerful, low-cost and increasingly efficient tool to enhance engagement, response rates, and overall sales outcomes. Industries are increasing their video usage universally, but I'd like to particularly highlight the real estate sector and its swift and effective adaptation. The insights from this industry will further validate the aforementioned trends and provide research on effective strategies, their applications, and the key performance indicators that confirm their return on investment. 5 Insights Into Real Estate's Digital Evolution: Embracing Video for Enhanced Engagement The real estate industry, which traditionally depended on face-to-face interactions, has undergone a digital transformation, with video content taking center stage. Vidyard's analysis provides valuable insights into how real estate professionals are using video to revolutionize their methods, offering lessons for other sectors to learn from their achievements. [video messages are] 40% more likely to be opened, 37% more likely to be clicked on, and have a response rate that's three times higher than non-video content. Surge in Video Adoption The real estate industry has experienced a remarkable 132% uptick in video creation year-over-year. Furthermore, there's been a 155% increase in user-generated videos compared to the previous year. This surge underscores the sector's recognition of video as an indispensable tool for engagement. Why Video is Reshaping Real Estate Several compelling reasons account for real estate's rapid pivot to video: Clarity in Communication: Videos simplify complex explanations, making property features and contractual details more accessible to potential buyers. Enhanced Engagement: Video messages, whether shared via email or social media, boast impressive engagement metrics. They're 40% more likely to be opened, 37% more likely to be clicked on, and have a response rate that's three times higher than non-video content. Versatility and Customization: Once created, videos can be easily repurposed, reshared, and tailored, ensuring each communication feels personalized. Efficiency and Connection: Videos expedite deal progress by swiftly addressing queries, highlighting property amenities, and fostering a genuine personal connection between agents and clients. The Power of Cold Outreach Videos Real estate agents who venture into cold outreach video messages are reaping dividends. These videos not only capture attention but also leverage social media algorithms. For instance, Instagram videos garner 38% more engagement compared to non-video posts, while Facebook's video engagement soars to an impressive 135% versus non-video posts. Keeping Deals Alive with Video In the competitive real estate market, keeping potential deals warm is crucial. Agents found that follow-up videos outperform traditional emails in this regard. The perceived effort behind creating a video translates to higher value in the eyes of clients, helping to ensure sustained interest. Showcasing Personality for Client Acquisition For real estate agents, personality can be a significant selling point. Videos offer a platform where agents can let their unique personalities shine, providing both current and potential clients with a blend of personal and, at times, entertaining experiences. This approach not only helps fosters client loyalty but also helps earn more referrals, ensuring a steady stream of satisfied home buyers and sellers. Conclusion These reports show us how influential video, socials, UGC and AI have become in today's online world. We also see that consumer behaviour is changing and how businesses are adapting. Sales pros are finding that old tactics are increasingly ineffective at closing deals and earning new business - and it’s forcing industries like real estate to get creative to stay competitive. As technology and what people want keep changing, businesses need to keep up and attempt to predict what might be next. The findings from these reports may leave us asking: How will AI and video change the way people connect with brands in the next few years? With so many changes online, how can businesses make sure they stand out and give people what they really want? Just like real estate is using more videos now, which other businesses might start doing the same? In a time when we talk to each other more through screens, how can businesses keep things real and honest? And with more and more videos popping up because AI makes it easier to scale, will people get tired of them? Will they keep evolving to get shorter and more punchy? And if not that, what might be the next big trend(s) with video? As we navigate this dynamic digital terrain, understanding these key questions is not just insightful—it's essential for strategic planning. Grasping the future roles of AI, video, and shifting consumer behavior will not only redefine brand engagement but also identify the trailblazers in the next wave of online business. In a world where technology is constantly reshaping the sales and marketing landscape, those who adapt, innovate, and anticipate will not merely survive—they will set the industry standard. If you found this article insightful, please consider sharing it, leaving a comment, or tagging me on , , or where this discussion can continue to evolve. Let's lead the way together in this exciting digital frontier! HackerNoon LinkedIn X

Digital Mastery 2023, Part 3: The Evolving Landscape of Virtual Selling

ডিজিটাল মাস্টারি 2023, পার্ট 3: ভার্চুয়াল সেলিংয়ের বিবর্তিত ল্যান্ডস্কেপ

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In this blog, we’ll look at in a post-pandemic era and outline the best ideas for converting B2B leads into long-term loyal customers. how to use webinars for B2B lead generation As the dust settles and businesses adapt to the new normal, the power of virtual gatherings has proven to be for B2B organisations seeking to connect, educate, and engage with their target audience. an indispensable tool The Webinar Evolution Webinars have been around since the end of the 80s. In that time, webinar platforms have evolved, but essentially, the technology hasn’t enabled webinars to become as engaging as they should have been. But with COVID-19 running rampant across the globe, it became a necessity as a part of and forced the tech to keep up. wider marketing strategies It also meant that to keep ahead of the industry trend, presentations needed to be upped a gear or two with sharp presentations, interactive elements, better sound and better lighting. And despite many presenters executing in an attempt to kill off their audience, the popularity of B2B webinars continued to grow. death by PowePoint So before we get into the nitty-gritty of the benefits and how to put on a successful webinar, let’s start by addressing – online fatigue. the elephant in the room We‘re Sooo Over Webinars! Webinar fatigue – it’s like being stuck in a never-ending Zoom meeting that you can’t escape from. OK – we all felt webinar fatigue during the pandemic. The never-ending invites to virtual conferences and in-person meetings, with the voice in the back of your head saying, “ “ Oh shit, here we go again! But there were many positives that came out of the almost excessive use of virtual events and webinars. As a way of creating a with prospects and existing clients, for business owners and marketing teams to reach as many prospects as possible in multiple locations for a fraction of the cost of a physical event. sustainable marketing impact B2B webinars proved to be a saving grace What worked well were product reviews, demonstrations, and educational and online social events. And overall, despite how we felt about virtual events, webinars not only survived the pandemic but also to acceptable audience attendance to help generate quality leads. continued to be an invaluable and cost-effective way Just take at look at some of these stats. 5 Webinar Facts You Should Know 1.  According to , 73% of B2B marketers say webinars are the best way to generate high-quality leads. GoToWebinar 2.  A study by the found that 57% of marketers have used webinars as part of their content marketing strategy. Content Marketing Institute 3.  Research by found that webinars have an average attendance rate of 44%, which is much higher than other digital marketing tactics like social media and email. ON24 4.  According to Report, 76% of buyers are willing to register and share basic information in exchange for content such as webinars. DemandGen 5. reported webinars having the highest engagement rates of any type of content, with an average viewing time of 57 minutes. BrightTALK Webinars are like a first date – they allow you to make an impression to woo your audience in a way other digital marketing activities simply can’t Like a magnet, the great thing about hosting a webinar is that they attract prospects , who are genuinely interested in what you have to offer. through a funnel A recent survey by found that 73% of B2B marketers and sales leaders said webinars were the best way to generate high-quality leads. That’s like hitting a hole-in-one on a mini-golf course! GoToWebinar But now that we’re emerging from the pandemic, what’s the future of webinar marketing? Well, it looks like it’s here to stay, with a few provisos. 6 Steps For B2B Lead Generation Whilst virtual events still have their role to play in a world that’s emerging from the pandemic, with careful planning, consider the following: 1. The Headline First and foremost, you must . A compelling title and description for your webinar will work wonders. Be the Obi-Wan Kenobi of your field, and they’ll happily follow you on your journey. capture their attention like a cat chasing a laser pointer 2. Keep It Short and Sweet In a post-pandemic world, people have a newfound appreciation for brevity. So, . Get to the point and avoid long, drawn-out presentations that can lead to viewer boredom and disengagement. keep your webinars short and sweet 3. Interactive Experience A webinar doesn’t have to be a one-way street. Make it by encouraging audience participation through Q&A sessions, polls, and surveys. This keeps viewers engaged and involved in the presentation. an interactive experience 4. Engaging Content If your webinar is boring, no amount of audience participation will save it. So, and valuable to the viewer. Offer something unique and informative that they can’t get anywhere else. make sure your content is engaging 5. Variety is the Spice of Life Don’t rely solely on webinars to connect with your audience. by offering other types of content, such as videos, podcasts, and blog posts. This keeps your content fresh and interesting and prevents webinar fatigue from setting in. Mix it up 6. Timing is Everything . Obviously, lunch hours or times when people are likely to be busy with other activities is a no-no. Be respectful of your audience’s time and schedule your webinars accordingly. Consider the timing of your webinars In general, aim for the midweek days for hosting, with Thursday being the best option. How to Convert Your Attendees Welcome to a realm where possibilities unfold and opportunities abound. As the curtains close on a compelling webinar, there’s true potential of converting leads and transforming them into lifelong customers. Post-event, keep the attention of both attendees and registrants as if you were a skilled magician. by sending them a personalised email, keeping the conversation going and making them feel valued. However, this is where many will fall by the wayside, as it’s not what you say but the tone to use when saying it. Follow up with them promptly It’s important to be , and not scare them away with aggressive sales tactics. Instead, use the softly softly approach and offer them something of value, like a free consultation or a discount on your services. And then, let them make the choice on their own. subtle, like a ninja You want to who gives recommendations but ultimately lets the customer decide what to drink. And just like that, with some charm and finesse, you’ve turned an unknown prospect into a potential customer. be like a friendly bartender OK, so let’s break this down further. Webinar Follow-Up So, you’ve hosted a B2B webinar and want to turn those attendees into customers. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to convert those webinar attendees into loyal customers: Step 1 – Post Communication Follow up by sending a l or message thanking them for attending the webinar. Include a link to the recording of the webinar and any additional resources that were mentioned. personalised emai Also, consider providing additional resources or answers to their questions. This shows that you value their time and are willing to go the extra mile. You can also use this opportunity to and invite attendees to continue the conversation on social media or through email. This is a great way to establish yourself as a thought leader in your industry and build long-term relationships with your audience. ask for feedback on the webinar Step 2 – Give Back Give them the goods – offer a . This lets them see first-hand how your solution can solve their pain. free trial or demo of your product or service By giving potential customers a chance to try out your solution, you increase the likelihood of them becoming paying customers. According to a study by HubSpot, . companies that offer a free trial or demo have a 25% higher conversion rate than those that don’t Step 3 – Be their BFF When it comes to proposing a to address a potential customer’s requirements, it’s like asking them out on a date. However, instead of dinner and a movie, you’re offering to wine and dine them with your expertise and solutions. consultation or meeting A consultation or meeting is like a tailored suit – it’s made to fit the potential customer’s unique needs and pain points. It shows that you’re not just looking for any ol’ customer; you’re looking for the perfect match. By conversing with a prospect, you have a much better chance of establishing a relationship long term. Every customer is a potential brand evangelist! Step 4 – Sprinkle In The Magic Social proofing – the art of , service and brand. It’s like the marketing equivalent of “everyone’s doing it, so why aren’t you?” It’s also an opportunity for potential customers to see that other businesses have taken the leap and have come out successful on the other side. customers advocating your product . Used within in your digital media or as a review on a third-party review site, a testimonial is like having your best friend vouch for you. It provides credibility and reassurance that your solution works and has helped other businesses like theirs. Testimonials are worth their weight in gold Although requiring more effort and planning, gaining a case study from a customer is one of the best forms of social proofing, particularly in the B2B space. . By sharing the success stories of other businesses, you’re creating relatability and showing potential customers that they’re not alone in their struggles. Like a good book – it tells a story Step 5 – Seal The Deal It’s time to seal the deal with a potential customer after they’ve viewed your webinar. But how can you turn that into a sale? Let’s take a look at some tips for bringing the deal over the line. Follow up and . If the attendee expresses any concerns during the webinar, make sure to address them in your follow-up communication. address any concerns Finally, don’t be afraid to . While you don’t want to come across as pushy, staying top-of-mind with the potential customer and reminding them of the value your product or service can provide is essential. be persistent in your follow-up communication Remember, converting webinar attendees into customers is a marathon, not a sprint. It takes time, effort, and a little bit of charm. Step 6 – Result Analysis Measuring and analysing your results is critical to understanding the success of your webinar and making improvements for future events. Consider tracking metrics such as attendance rate, engagement rate (questions asked, polls answered, etc.), conversion rate, and revenue generated. Use this data to identify areas where you can improve, such as increasing attendance or engagement rates or optimising your follow-up process to improve conversion rates. Quality over Quantity, Every Time Apart from using webinars to make announcements of products and services or to educate, you can also use them to harness relationships with existing customers, suppliers and prospects within more intimate online settings. As a real-world example, due to the pandemic, I took (Account Based Marketing) campaign by inviting several key account customers and a couple of prospects to a virtual wine event. social influencing online as part of a wider ABM Within 10 days and as a result of that event, one of our . If you’re wondering what the drop-out rate was for that virtual event, it was 0% and a cost £4.5k to host the event, returning an . As a marketer, I’ll take that every day of the week! prospects signed a deal worth over £300K ROI of 6566.67% When executed well inline with a clear and defined strategy, utilising a webinar platform for smaller social events keeps the connection alive with the people your business depends on. And in the above case, within a social environment, either online or offline, , resulting in great gains in lead gen conversion rates. using social proofing is where the magic happens Marketing is all about building relationships. Final Thoughts From a B2B perspective, I’ve always believed that the more you connect with your audience, the better. And this goes beyond digital marketing. Yes, all that nurturing along the way through emails, social media, PPC, SEO etc, has its role to play, but at the end of the day, if you’re looking to secure a big commercial deal, you have to be able to . It’s not rocket science, but it is about building long term relationships. look that person in the eye and shake their hand Although not the be-all and end-all of securing a deal, online events allow you to engage with your audience more intimately and provide a great introduction to your brand and content. Webinars are more effective in generating leads than email and social media. In fact, it’s not unusual for webinars to generate an average of 5 times more leads compared to other digital marketing channels. By starting with a clear goal, choosing the right topic and format, promoting your webinar effectively, engaging your audience during the event, and following up with attendees afterwards, webinars can deliver real results. The final point I want to leave you with is to use webinars as just another part of a bigger campaign. . Life is about balance, and so should it be in marketing as well Sources ON24’s Webinars Benchmark Survey (2022): https://www.on24.com/resources/asset/ebook-on24-webinar-benchmarks-report-2022 HubSpot’s Webinar Marketing Stats & Best Practices (2021): https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/webinar-stats Also published . here

The Best Way To Use Webinars For B2B Lead Generation

Hashing. Yep, you read that right. Not Not golden, crisp-on-the-outside, melty-on-the-inside hashtags. hash browns. Hashing. And if you’re wondering what on Earth that is, you’re not alone. Hash browns and hashing certainly conjure up wildly different images — or in the case of hashing, no image at all. Hashing isn’t a commonly used term that’s familiar to many people, but it’s still an integral part of modern computing. Our Data-driven World You may have noticed that there’s a of data on the Web, and the amounts are only growing every day. Much of that data needs to be compressed and stored in ways that make sense for servers. And in terms of user privacy, much of it needs to be kept safe from bad actors. We need fail-safe cybersecurity to protect it. lot Enter hashing: a cryptographic technique that converts data into a fixed-size string of characters, which is known as a hash. Hashing is like a computer-science badge of identity — a sort of digital passport for data. Used for organizing data and keeping it safe, hash codes are the fingerprint smudges that pepper our online files. Every fixed-length hash is unique to the data it represents. If that data is tampered with, for example during transmission between servers, the hash value changes. This makes hashing a reliable method for ensuring that data is authentic and has been protected from unauthorized access. Hashing Use Cases Hashing isn’t always necessary. In most cases, it’s used for applications in which data integrity and authentication are vital. In other cases, encryption and data compression can be used to protect the confidentiality of data and to reduce the size of data files. To hash or not to hash? It usually depends on the specific application-related goals. As a general rule: Hashing is the best option for data integrity and authentication Encryption is best for data confidentiality (as the primary concern) Compression is good if you’re concerned only about file-size reduction Here are some common use cases for hashing: Password Storage and Authentication Imagine that you have a locked treasure chest in your attic filled with steaming hash browns. You want to make sure no one can find them. You hide the key under your pillow, but then a thought crosses your mind… what if in the worst-case scenario, someone finds ? the key You decide that another layer of protection is needed. Grabbing a kitchen knife, you open the chest and cut up all the hash browns into unrecognizable shapes. Pardon the goofy example, but this is essentially how hashing password security works. Using hashing algorithms, passwords are transformed into unrecognizable strings of letters and numbers, shielding the original passwords from view. If a bad actor gains access to a database, the passwords are still protected by their hash values and they’re irretrievable by the hacker. Digital Signatures In the Middle Ages, wax or clay seals were used to protect the authenticity of letters. To ensure that letters weren’t tampered with, the sender would melt hot wax or clay onto the flap. A signet ring or stamp was pressed into it to leave a signature and stamp of authenticity. If a letter arrived with a broken seal, the recipient knew it had been tampered with. In the same way, hash values are like seals for digital documents. A hash value that is not identical to the one on the original document is a clear giveaway of unauthorized access. File Verification A large-scale drive-by-download attack is a bit like a drive-by shooting. It can happen before you know it, and rock you (and your file security) to the core. It’s also a key malware strategy for attackers, with downloaders accounting for 41% of attacks. With such a large proportion of potential information-retrieval attacks coming in through downloads, hashing helps protect user devices and their contents from malicious code. As with digital signatures, hash values serve as an intermediary between end-to-end download and device. A file that doesn’t match its original hash value will be blocked, preventing any malware from entering the device. Hash Functions How do you make hash browns? Grate potatoes Fry until crispy and golden brown Season with salt and pepper That’s it. And in the same spirit, hashing has a process behind it, known as the hash function, an algorithm that takes specific data as input and produces a hash value at the other end. Even the slightest change in the input data will result in a different hash value. A hash function is any function that can be used to map data of arbitrary size to fixed-size values. The values returned by a hash function are called hash values, hash codes, digests, or simply hashes. As Wikipedia explains, a hash table “uses a to compute an index, also called a hash code, into an array of buckets or slots, from which the desired value can be found. During lookup, the key is hashed and the resulting hash indicates where the corresponding value is stored.” hash function Types of Hash Function People have their own ways of making hash browns. And just as with air fryers and gas stoves, different functions can be utilized to produce a hash value. These different hash functions are used in different applications depending on security requirements and other functionality (e.g., digital signatures, file verification). Here are a few hashing techniques: produces a 128-bit hash value. This function was widely used in the past but has a vulnerability to collisions (which we’ll discuss next). MD5 produces a 160-bit hash value. It’s been replaced by the more secure SHA-2 and SHA-3 families. SHA-1 and produce 256- and 512-bit hash values. These functions are primarily used for digital signatures and certificates. SHA-256 SHA-512 is useful for password encryption, as it’s resistant to brute-force attacks. bcrypt Hash Collisions A “collision” in hashing isn’t as deadly as it sounds. A collision happens when two different hash functions generate the same hash code. Rather than mangled cars, the outcome of a computer collision often has no impact. In simple terms, it’s like having two identical digital fingerprints, or the same keys for two different houses. Hash Collision Resolution With hashing, the aim is always to reduce the number of collisions, as these pose risks to both the integrity of the hashing system and the security of data. Here’s why. Undermining the integrity of hashing The possibility of collisions in the hashing method is a fatal flaw. It undermines the integrity of the system and potentially compromises security, making it difficult to detect unauthorized changes to data. If two identical hash codes exist within a database — if that possibility exists — then it can slow down data retrieval and compromise the authenticity of files. A security risk to data When there’s a high risk of collisions in a hash function, it poses a small security risk to data. Attackers are able to exploit this vulnerability in the system, creating “malicious” different inputs that can produce the same hash code, and then using these to gain access to a server or application. Identical hash codes also disturb the authenticity of data in a database and are more likely to produce leakages. So it’s vital that hash functions contain a low probability of collisions in order to fortify data as well as possible. Hashing in the Blockchain Imagine you have a magic set of Lego bricks, which stick together as you build. On each brick is written a big number in black marker pen. On a square red brick, the number 9. On a long, blue brick, 134. You’re building a tower, and as you click the bricks together, they fuse permanently. As you build, you realize you’re not just creating a tower but a series of numbers, indelibly stuck together: 9-134-45-6-09-3267-67. The blockchain is like this tower, except instead of bricks you have blocks (units of data), and instead of numbers you have hash codes. When the blocks in a blockchain are connected, the data is difficult to remove or change. Hashing plays an important role in the blockchain for several reasons: Hash codes are unique and irreplaceable, and so ensure the integrity of data Transactions can be verified fast, with the hash codes used for reference in each case There’s a high level of security against tampering: any attempt to alter the data in a block results in a change in the hash code, which is then detected by the network Hashing in Search Technology Search engine databases are typically vast and contain massive amounts of data. People’s entered search queries can vary substantially. When a user enters a search term in a search box on a website or in an app, the search algorithm has to spring into action and: Recognize the search term Identify the units of data in the database it relates to Instantly offer up the relevant results from the database To speed up the data-retrieval process and make the search results more accurate, utilize hashing algorithms. When a user enters a search term, the algorithm (hash function) creates a unique hash code, which is linked to a relevant piece of data in the search engine database. Once created, this hash can be quickly searched and matched to the search term, allowing the search engine to provide accurate search results more quickly. artificial intelligence–aided search engines like Algolia In recent years, hashing has become crucial for quickly generating accurate that hit the mark. long-tail search queries So, there you have it: hashing in all its digital-fingerprint glory. Not nearly as enticing to imagine as hash browns, but (dare we say) more important. Ready to modernize your search? Neural-based hashes are lowering the barrier for search technology. is a technique that allows us to compress vectors without losing information. Neural hashing makes happen as fast as keyword search. Neural hashing vector-based search encompasses interconnected-node-based “thinking” on the part of algorithmic components known as neural networks. For instance, a convolutional neural network, or CNN, a network architecture for deep learning, excels at making sense of search queries. It’s flexible, and it works well when system training data and input continually change, as happens all the time in ecommerce. Added bonus: instead of making and updating rules for a machine learning model, you can start with a trained neural network, and then the model can become progressively better “educated,” for instance, in terms of . Neural search semantics Like to know more about how Algolia can help you improve your search functionality and conversion metrics while keeping your data secure and authenticated? We look forward to hearing from you so we can give you the rundown on successful — and profitable — search and discovery optimization for your site or app. Also published . here

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