But as important as VPNs are, sometimes they don’t work as planned. In fact, most users occasionally face the dilemma of having no internet when connected to a VPN.

So, what good is connecting to a VPN if you cannot browse the internet? Why is there no internet access after connecting to your VPN?

How Does a VPN Route Traffic?

A VPN creates a secure tunnel of communication between your internet connection and the remote network without compromising security or speed.

It achieves this security level by shielding your IP address and routing the internet traffic through an encrypted tunnel that is created between your originating traffic and the destination.

This way, the VPN server becomes the source of your data every time you browse the internet by severing you from the rest of the unsecured public internet.

A VPN also keeps your online activities anonymous so that no one, including your Internet Service Provider (ISP), can see which websites you visit or what you download.

The VPN also works as a filter that makes your data undecipherable as it travels through the encrypted tunnel. Encryption makes it hard for even the cleverest online intruders to decode your data.

Why Is There No Internet When My VPN Is On?

While a VPN is a great asset when you want to extend a private network across a public one, things don’t always go as planned. Not being able to connect to the internet while your VPN is turned on is frustrating yet very common.

Here are some potential reasons behind this problem.

1. Bad Internet Connection

A bad internet connection can prevent you from connecting to the internet with or without a VPN.

To confirm the source of the problem, disconnect your VPN connection and then try to access the internet. If there is still no internet access even after disconnecting your VPN, then the problem is with your network.

Generally, rebooting your device and checking your network status can alleviate this problem. If not, you can also contact the internet providers to get a solution. They will guide you through a series of steps to get your internet to function.

2. DNS Configuration Issues

The most common reason why you cannot browse the internet when connected to the VPN is a DNS configuration issue.

Every website or domain name such as google(dot)com has an associated IP address. But humans are not good at memorizing IP addresses, so the DNS (Domain Name System) converts and translates those domain names into IP addresses, so we can surf the internet with ease.

However, faulty DNS settings can cause issues and prevent you from going online once you are connected to a VPN server. To fix this problem, you will need to change your DNS settings manually.

3. Bad Server Choice

If you are connected to a VPN server that is down, blocked (some countries block VPN connections), or has other issues, then it might prevent you from getting connected.

Generally, VPN providers offer hundreds of different servers, so trying to reconnect to a different one might just get around this problem.

If you can access the internet after switching the VPN server location, then most likely there was a temporary issue with the server location you selected originally.

4. Incorrect VPN Protocol

A routing protocol is a set of rules that determine how your data travels from source to destination; VPNs support different types of routing protocols. However, if your VPN uses the UDP protocol by default, it may be blocked in some countries.

To ensure the best outcome, open your VPN’s options or settings and select Protocol from the list. Then choose the protocols below in the following order of preference:

• OpenVPN TCP.
• L2TP.
• PPTP.

5. Incorrect VPN Port

The flow of traffic to and from a VPN server is managed by VPN ports. Just like VPN protocols, some ports might also get blocked, causing no internet access when connected to VPN.

Finding and switching to the correct port is important. But ports can be a bit challenging. It’s best to contact your VPN provider, so they can suggest the port that is suitable for your needs.

6. Default Gateway Settings

The default gateway settings should be left unchecked if you are having issues connecting to the internet while your VPN is turned on. This is because if you have configured your VPN connection to use the default gateway on the remote network, then this setting overrides the default gateway settings that you specify in your TCP/IP settings.

To uncheck the default gateway option, here are the steps to follow if you are a Windows user:

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Network & Internet > Network & Sharing Center > Change Adapter Settings.
2. Right-click the VPN connection adapter and then click Properties.
3. Click the Networking tab.
4. Double-click Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) option.
5. Click the Advanced button and go to the IP Settings tab.
6. Uncheck the Use default gateway on the remote network option.
7. Click OK three times.

7. Proxy Server Settings

A proxy server acts as a middleman between your computer and the internet. It is often used to hide your real location, so you can access websites that would otherwise be blocked based on your geographical location.

Sometimes, a web browser’s proxy settings may block access when a VPN connection is found. Disabling or changing proxy settings may resolve this problem. Fortunately, you can change your proxy settings in Google Chrome.

8. VPN Kill Switch Turned On

A VPN kill switch is a special VPN feature that automatically disconnects your device from the internet when your VPN connection goes down. It is done to prevent the possibility of accidentally exposing your IP address while the VPN is down. This may be a reason why after connecting to VPN, the internet is not working.

You might face internet connection problems if your VPN comes back online, but the kill switch is still enabled. To fix the issue, manually check if the kill switch is enabled and then disable it to get back online.

9. Using an Older VPN Version

If the internet is not working when you’re connected to VPN, using an older VPN version might be the reason.

Having an updated VPN is important to avoid connection issues. If you are running an outdated version, update it. You can also re-install the VPN software again.

Here are the steps to follow:

1. Go to Start > Control Panel > Programs & Features.
2. Right-click on your installed VPN client, then select Uninstall.
3. Visit your VPN provider’s website after uninstalling it to download the newest version of the software.
4. Restart your computer.

10. Incorrect Date and Time Settings

In some instances, incorrect date and time settings might lead to your VPN blocking the internet.

To check for misconfigured time and date settings, follow these steps:

1. Go to Start > Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time.
2. Select Change under Change date and time, and update it with the current date and time.
3. Click the dialog box under Time Zone to check if it’s set correctly.

Be Wary of Free VPN Providers

The best things in life do not come without a price tag. So you should always be wary of free VPN providers.

Along with having servers that can get quickly overloaded due to a high influx of traffic, free VPN providers cannot necessarily be trusted with your private data. Not only do you suffer from a spotty internet connection, but you are also putting your precious data at risk, as free VPN providers are more likely to track your data to cover their operational costs.

So, if you are still at crossroads between getting a free VPN provider or a paid service, always go with the latter if you can afford it. Paid versions sometimes show glitches like having no internet access when connected to a VPN, but these issues are fixable and are much more reliable with data security.

The post Why Is There No Internet When My VPN Is On? appeared first on Lifeyet News.

If you don’t mind paying, you can subscribe to YouTube Premium to watch without ads and download videos for offline viewing. But this still requires you to watch the videos using the YouTube app.

What if you want to save YouTube videos and watch them on your iPhone’s Camera Roll? We’ll show you how, and it doesn’t require jailbreaking or anything else shady.

How to Download YouTube Videos to the iPhone Camera Roll

Unfortunately, any YouTube video downloader apps for iPhone that appear on the App Store don’t usually last long. You should avoid using any of those, since Apple will remove them after some time. See our discussion of whether it’s legal to download YouTube videos for more info on this.

Thankfully, downloading YouTube videos to your iPhone is still pretty easy. It just requires a small workaround using a browser.

First, install the free app Documents by Readdle. It’s a file manager with an integrated web browser, which makes it handy for the purpose of downloading YouTube videos and transferring them to the Camera Roll.

Since iOS 13, there is no longer a Camera Roll folder on iPhone. It’s been replaced with the Recents folder in the Albums tab of the Photos app. This method still works the same way and allows you to watch YouTube videos through the Photos app on your iPhone.

Next, locate the YouTube video you want to download. You can use the official YouTube app to do this; just open the video, tap Share, then choose Copy link.

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After you have the link copied, head over to the Documents app. You’ll probably have to walk through a quick introduction the first time you use it, and can skip the offer to upgrade to the premium version of the app.

Once you’re inside Documents, tap the Browser icon in the bottom-right corner to open the app’s built-in browser. Then browse to a website that can download YouTube videos, such as Btclod or X2Download. These sites come and go, so search Google to find a similar one if either of those suggestions stops working.

Downloading the YouTube Video to Your iPhone

On the download site, tap inside the Search or paste field, then choose Paste to add the link to your YouTube video. Tap the button next to the field to start converting the video to a downloadable format.

After a moment, the site should generate download links for your video. Depending on the particular site you visit, you may see just one link, several links for different levels of quality, or even the option to download only the audio (MP3). Tap the Video option or similar and choose the quality you want.

In the below example, the 1080p video is about 95MB, while the 480p version is only 20MB.

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Hit the Download link to start downloading your video once it’s ready. This will pop up a Documents window with preferences on how to save the file.

If you like, change the Name to something shorter or more descriptive. The default save location of My Files/Downloads is fine, unless you want to move it somewhere else. And you can uncheck the Ask me every time slider if you want to save future downloads to the same folder automatically.

Tap Done to download the YouTube video to your iPhone. If you want to check its progress, tap the Downloads button on the bottom toolbar of the Documents app.

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Moving the YouTube Video to Your Camera Roll

Now, you just need to move the downloaded video so it shows up in your Camera Roll. The Documents app makes this easy, as well.

Tap the Folder icon at the bottom-left corner of the app to leave the web browser and go back to the file manager. Next, open your Downloads folder, which should appear under the main My Files heading. If you didn’t save the video to the default location of Downloads, open the folder where you placed it instead.

Press the Ellipsis icon below the file you just downloaded, then choose Move. On the Move to page, you should see a Photos folder under My Files. Tap Photos to check it. Due to privacy features on modern versions of iOS, you’ll be prompted to allow the Documents app to access your photos. Tap Allow Access to All Photos for it to work correctly.

When that’s done, hit the Move button at the top-right to complete the process.

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You’ve successfully downloaded a YouTube video to your Camera Roll now. To view it, open the Photos app on your phone. Your new video will appear in the Recents folder on the Albums tab, as well as the Videos option under Media Types at the bottom of the Albums page. It will also be the newest item under Library > All Photos.

If you like, you can also open and watch the video in the Documents app for some additional options, like changing the zoom and changing gestures to control playback.

2 Images

Other Ways to Download YouTube Videos to Your iPhone

We covered the Camera Roll method above because many people want to save YouTube videos right to that folder. But this isn’t the only way to download YouTube videos to your iPhone or iPad.

As we mentioned earlier, YouTube Premium has several benefits. One of the biggest is that you can download videos offline to watch anytime you like. If you regularly watch videos offline on your iPhone, the monthly cost is worth it for the convenience. Plus, this is an official method, so you aren’t risking any rule-breaking activity.

With YouTube Premium, you just have to tap Download on any video in the app. It will save all your downloaded videos in one place for easy viewing. However, you can’t export them to watch outside the YouTube app, and they’ll expire if you cancel YouTube Premium.

If you don’t want to pay for Premium, you can use a bulk YouTube downloader on your desktop, which is faster. Once you have the videos converted on your computer, transfer the files to your iPhone over a USB cable or using wireless methods.

Failing that, you can use the clumsy but doable workaround of recording your iPhone screen when playing the video. However, this requires you to play through the whole video, which isn’t ideal. It also doesn’t give you the best quality for the video.

Download YouTube Videos to iPhone and Watch Them Anywhere

With these methods, you can save YouTube videos to your iPhone so you aren’t dependent on the YouTube app or service to watch them. The Camera Roll method is the best for most people, as it makes them easily accessible and you don’t need to transfer any files from another device.

The post How to Download YouTube Videos to Your iPhone Camera Roll appeared first on Lifeyet News.

NICE FATHER’S DAY GREETINGS

The feeling of protection you give me is the most precious thing in the world for me. I love and appreciate you, dad, and today is a good day to remind you of it. Happy Father’s Day. You are the best. 

***

I can’t imagine having another dad. You are the best father in the whole world, and I hope that someday I will be as kind and understanding as you are. Don’t you ever forget that I love you beyond words. 

***

Having a good father figure in life is so very important. I feel blessed to have you in my life, dad. You showed me what true love is, and I will be forever grateful for that. Enjoy your day. I love you. 

***

I dedicate this day to you, dad! I can’t believe I was lucky enough to be born into a family that made my life so beautiful and carefree. If you need another pair of cargo shorts, I got you. Just hit me up. 

***

I’m so grateful to you for not ruining my mental health like most fathers do. I will never be able to find the words to express my gratitude. Just know that I love you more than words can say. Happy Father’s Day!

FATHER’S DAY CONGRATULATIONS

I wish I could be there to enjoy this wonderful Father’s Day with you! It’s okay, we’ll have lots of those. I love you endlessly, and I’m beyond grateful for everything that you do for me, dad. Happy Father’s Day. 

***

Happy Father’s Day to the most amazing dad, extraordinary husband and my best friend! Thank you for showing us that we are loved and protected every single day. We will do the same for you. 

***

Every girl on the planet wants to be a princess. But not everyone has an opportunity to actually become one. You made me feel like I am the most important girl in the world. Instead of making me a princess, you made me a queen. Thank you, dad. 

***

I know that raising a boy like me is hard. Sometimes I have too much energy for you. I just want you to know that I appreciate everything you do for me, and I see how hard you try. Happy Father’s Day. 

***

You have always been my biggest support. I have no idea where would I be without your encouragement and overwhelming love. Thank you for being the best dad ever. Happy Father’s Day! 

BEAUTIFUL FATHER’S DAY WORDS

A good father is a rarity these days. I was blessed with the most caring, loving and supportive father in the universe. There’s nothing I can’t do to make you happy, dad. Thank you for always being there for me. Happy Father’s Day.

***

Happy Father’s Day to my favourite human being! You are the ultimate role model for every man in this world, and I’m beyond proud of everything you are. Thank you for the love.

***

You gave me so much. Every part of me contains a part of you, and I’m beyond proud to be someone who is learning from you. I know that sometimes it’s hard to be my father. But you are doing amazing. Happy Father’s Day. 

***

You were definitely born to be a dad. Your wisdom, intelligence and kindness are making me feel so safe for some reason. Thank you for everything that you gave me and everything that you keep giving me each and every day. Happy Father’s Day. 

***

Sending a lot of love to the best dad in the world (officially!). Believe it or not, I love you more than words can say. I couldn’t do a thing without you. Thank you for always having my back. Happy Father’s Day!

MATCHED CONTENT

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY MESSAGES

You have always been my personal superhero. You saved me from sadness, kept me safe and always knew when I needed you most. I can’t be more grateful for having you as my dad. Happy Father’s Day, I love you endlessly. 

***

Sometimes we don’t understand each other. We both don’t know how to compromise and we both are stubborn. But that’s because you’ve made me strong and ambitious, and I love you for that. Happy Father’s Day, dad. 

***

You are the most important human being in my life. You’ve tried so hard to make my life easy and exciting, and I can’t even imagine how I can pay you back. I know you don’t want anything because everything you do, you do it just because you have the kindest heart. Happy Father’s Day, dad.

***

Dad. It’s so hard for me to be sincere and affectionate, you know that, because we’re the same. But I love you endlessly, and I remember and appreciate every little thing that you’ve ever done for me. Happy Father’s Day.

***

Happy Father’s Day to the most loving, kind and protective dad in the whole world! I love you to the moon and back and even more. Having you as my father has made me a better person for sure. Thank you for everything. 

SHORT FATHER’S DAY WISHES

Dad, you are the example of a man I want to see by my side. Your love for me and mom fills my heart with joy each and every day, and I couldn’t dream of a better father. Thank you for everything you do. Happy Father’s Day. 

***

Being your child is the biggest blessing I could ever receive. You are my greatest protector and biggest inspiration. I have so much love for you, it’s even hard to find words to describe it. Love you, happy Father’s Day!

***

So happy to have the occasion to tell you how much I love and appreciate you, dad! You’ve been with me when I was down, when I was happy, when I cried after my heart got broken for the first time. You are the best father in the world. Love you. 

***

I know I don’t tell you that often enough, but you are the best man I know, my true inspiration and example of a man I want to become. I appreciate our special connection very much and love you endlessly. 

***

Happy Father’s Day! So grateful for the opportunity to tell you how much I love you. Thanks to you I am who I am, and I think I am pretty awesome. Thank you for always being with me, dad. I love you very much.

FATHER’S DAY WISHES

A real father is not the one who participates in childbearing, but the one who takes part in upbringing of children. Thank you, dear father, for being a real man who is not afraid to take responsibility for the nearest and dearest.

***

Thank you for giving me a happy childhood. I remember all the toys you ever bought. I remember every game you came up with. I remember every single fairytale that you made up especially for me. I love you unreservedly. We all do.

***

I always felt like a little princess next to you. You were always so strong and knew how to get out of any situation. You always protected me. You loved with all your heart. There are no even words that can express my gratitude and love for you. Happy Father’s day!

***

Celebrating Father’s day in summer is not a coincidence. You and summer have many things in common. You’re warm, sunny, bright and it what makes me love you so hard! Happy Father’s day!

***

Dear daddy, I’m so proud of you. There are many things I want to wish you this day, but the most important is that I want you to be proud of me also. And I will try my best to meet your expectations. Happy Father’s day!

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY QUOTES

For me, you always were an indisputable authority. I obeyed you, because I knew you wanted a better life for me. And owing to you, all our common dreams and hopes came true. Happy Father’s day!

***

You were with me throughout my life. You were with me when I took my first step and when I fell for the first time. You were with me when I got my first excellent grade and when I failed my exam for the first time. In other words, you always understood and supported me no matter what. Thank you for it.

***

Being a dad is a great happiness, but it is a hard work also. Because dad is a guard who keeps the family safe and warm. Dad is a noble knight who would die for his kids. And for me dad is the best friend, who knows everything about me and accepts me just the way I am. Happy Father’s day!

***

When I met you for the first time I immediately realized that you would be a great father. I’m so happy you’re the father of our kids. There are moments when I’m about to give up, but you always know how to act. We all love and appreciate you. Happy Father’s day, my beloved husband!

***

Dad, you are like a shelter from storms of life,
You always knew how to keep us safe and calm,
Your strong hands wiped child’s tears,
We have grown up a long time ago,
But we always hurry up home to share our troubles and achievements,
You teach us real-life wisdom, dignity and kindness.
Be healthy and strong as always,
Forget all your worries for today,
Have a joyful Father’s Day!

Every year I become surer that you’re the mascot of our family. There’s no other explanation that could describe the reason of our happiness for so many years. Thank you, dear dad!

***

Dear father, I’m sure you’ll never grow old. Due to your love of life, energy and an incredible sense of humour, you’ll be young and resilient forever. Your young soul and our endless love for you will never change. Happy Father’s day!

***

Dear dad, you’re the person I admired all my life! I’m really grateful to you for being so strong and understanding. Every time I faced challenges on my way you were the one who supported and cheered me up. Thank you and a happy holiday!

***

You’re not only a real father. For me, you’re also a real friend, who knows and keeps all my secrets. You’re a real teacher, who shows me what’s right and what’s wrong. You’re a real man who stays faithful to own principles. Thank you for being a role model for me.

***

There’s one thing I’m strongly convinced: Father’s day was established in your honour, dear dad! You are the greatest dad ever and I’m really proud to be your son/daughter. Congratulations on the holiday!

Sometimes we can’t find the right words to express our feelings. Sometimes we can’t express our love even through actions. Dear dad, this is one of those times, because our love for you is so huge that we can’t put in into anything. Happy Father’s day!

***

My dear father! You contributed a lot to my development as a person. Only due to you, I’ve learnt to be a real man, to respect moral values and dignity. I’m really grateful to you for everything. Congratulations on Father’s day!

***

There are so many things I want to thank you for. Thank you for an incredible atmosphere of love and care that you gave me all my life. Thank you for being so patient, though I know I made you worried for many times. Thank you indeed, dear dad. I love you.

***

Everyone needs a father. A small baby needs strong father’s arms to hold it tight. A girl needs a father to feel like a beautiful princess. A boy needs a father to learn how to be a real knight. A mother needs a father to raise their kids in happiness and harmony. Happy Father’s day!

***

Dear dad, you’re the head of the family, beloved husband of our mum and a granddad for our children. How do you manage to play so many roles excellently? We won’t stop admiring you ever. Happy father’s day!

A real man can be whatever he wants: he can be a pilot, an engineer, a programmer and so on. But the best thing a man can be is a great father. And I’m really happy to have the best father in the world!

***

Father is not just a man. Frankly speaking, my father is not a man at all – he is a real superhero! There’s no other way I can explain his wonderful abilities to make me laugh when I’m sad, to interpret the most complicated things in simple terms and to love me like nobody can. Happy Father’s day!

***

My beloved husband, let me congratulate you on this wonderful holiday! I believe that there’s no other man on the Earth who could be such an amazing father for our kids. I’m really happy they took so many great features after you. Happy Father’s day!

***

I believe that being a good dad is the greatest achievement in every man’s life. There’s no other more honourable thing than raising kids giving them all love, care and attention that you have. Dear father, you always were and forever will be a perfect father for me. Congratulations!

***

Father is a half of a family. He plays a very important role in every person’s life – no matter whether it’s a boy or girl, no matter whether it’s a child or an adult. Father is a support and a real friend who will always understand you without a word.

Our children are grown up already, but I can still see how much they need you. And I suppose it’s because you’re the only man on the planet who is able to get them back to their childhood for a moment. We all love you madly. Happy Father’s day!

***

You always were a role model for me. You taught me how to be honest and reliable friend, how to respect people and, what is more important, you showed me what happy family life is. Thank you!

***

Maybe men are not as emotional as women, but it does not mean they can’t love like women do. And I know that you love me with all your heart. I love you too, dad. Wish you a happy holiday!

***

I don’t need any reason to tell you how important you are for me, but this holiday gives me one more great opportunity to say that I appreciate everything you do for our family. I promise I will never disappoint you. Happy Father’s day!

***

The years roll on, but you don’t change at all. I remember you in my childhood: you were always so funny and cheerful, everyone just adored you. I told everyone that you were my daddy with a huge pride. And I’m still happy to call you my daddy. Happy holiday!

Thank you for your love and care, for happy childhood days, celebrations and unforgettable moments!
Dear Dad, I wish you long days, filled with joy and happiness!

***

Daddy, I am very proud of you, for every little thing you have done, you were, are and always will be my hero! I will always look up to you, because you are the best!

***

The word “dad” holds so many warm and pleasant memories within it. Saying to you this word everyday brings me so much pleasure and makes me really happy. I congratulate you on the holiday!

***

Dear dad, thank you for all your help, support, for being there when I was down! I love you so much, happy Father’s Day!

***

Today is a great holiday – Father’s day. I wish you never get disappointed in your kid. And I promise that this wish will come true, because I’ll do everything that is possible to make you happy and proud of me. Happy holiday!

I believe that good father is equally important for both girls and boys. Because only father is able to show a boy what it means to be a real man and show the girl how it feels to feel herself a real woman next to him.

***

Dad, thank you for teaching me how to be strong, to never stop believing in my dreams, for all the trust, for helping me achieve my goals! I wouldn’t be where I am today without your support! Happy father’s day!

***

Dad, if I could, I would stop time, just to be by your side forever,
You always say: ”you grew up really fast, it’s almost like you are not my little princess anymore”
But remember this – I will always be your little princess.
Happy father’s day, love you!

***

Daddy, you are the sunshine to my dark days,
My inspirer, my first hero,
When I see you, I always want to smile
Because you’re the only one
Who truly makes me happy!
Love you very much!

***

Dear dad, I always admired your ability to be strong and tender simultaneously, to be strict sometimes and incredibly funny sometimes. It’s amazing how you can be so different but still so close and dear to my heart. Happy Father’s day!

Father, thank you for teaching me to be myself, for never letting me down, for always being next to me, for always making me lough, even when I never wanted to smile. Thank you for being by my side, I love you!

***

You were always there, when I needed you
You never left my side, even when I was yelling
You were always next to me, encouraging me,
Listening to my crying and wiping my tears,
Thank you from the bottom of my heart and happy Father’s day!

***

Dad, I will always be there, when you need me,
I will always be your little princess,
And as they say: someday I may find a prince,
But you will always be my king!
Love you, daddy!

***

Dear dad, thank you for not leaving me, when I was sad,
For never letting me down, when I needed you.
I am forever grateful to you
And I will love you until the day I die!

***

Father, you are my hero, my role model, when I was just a little boy, you taught me to never give up, to chase my dreams, and I am very thankful for that, because without your support, I would be where I am today!

Thank you, daddy, for our happy childhood,
For inspiration, for joyful days,
For love, that we received from you,
We thank for everything from the bottom of the heart!
Happy Father’s Day!

***

When I was small, you played with me,
When I grew up, you gave me advices,
I can always lean on your shoulder, strong like a wall.
I am so happy when we spend time together.
Happy Father’s Day!

***

Dear Dad, I am thankful for the love you gave,
You taught me how to smile
And you held me, when I slipped on my way.
You believed me, when nobody did,
Every day you give me strength to live!

***

Thank you for teaching me to learn from my mistakes,
For teaching to enjoy life and reach for dreams,
You are a wonderful father, always caring and loving,
Your inner strength raise me up, when I fall.
Happy Father’s Day, I love you!

***

When it is difficult, I remember childhood,
I close my eyes and I see our family house,
I remember how you carried me over the meadow,
And taught to enjoy a bird’s flight,
To appreciate what I already have, to listen to my heart,
Do you remember how we created plans for the future?
You taught me never give up,
To learn from mistakes, to fall and raise up again.
I love you! Happy Father’s Day!

The post FATHER’S DAY WISHES AND MESSAGES appeared first on Lifeyet News.

Recently, our firm took over the digital marketing efforts for a small company.

Their previous digital marketing efforts were led by a large, multi-national corporation that formerly specialized in Yellow Page advertising.

As we went about our onboarding checklist, we ran into a snag.

The small business had never had direct access to their Google Analytics account.

They had used their previous firm’s “proprietary” dashboards to track progress.

Our calls to the previous agency went unanswered.

We asked our client to contact the agency. They did.

The agency told our client that they owned the Google Analytics account, and even though my client had paid their previous bill in full and fulfilled the term of their contract, their analytics account would not be released.

So we called Google.

After speaking with three different folks at Google, we were told that we could not have access to our client’s analytics because a different URL, not my client’s, was being tracked by the analytics code.

A little bit of digging uncovered that more than 68 domains were using this same UA code. All of these sites appear to have signed up for digital marketing services from my client’s former agency.

I’m assuming that this agency is using some sort of dash boarding tool that pulls in data from a Google Analytics setup where different views are created with a single UA tracking code.

This makes it simple for them to set up websites (they build almost all of their client’s sites) and do all of the configurations in Analytics after the fact.

This is how the agency scales to handle the thousands of small business accounts they manage without using costly skilled talent.

This also means there is no way any of these companies can retain their analytics data after they decide to leave their agency.

History gone. Poof.

This is data held hostage through a loophole.

Who Owns Your Data?

Good contracts make good partners.

If I were a business looking to hire an agency, one of the first things I would do is look at the contract and make sure that I own the work being done by the agency.

I would also make sure that I owned any data being analyzed.

It’s astounding to me how many businesses come to us without their data after leaving an agency. In fact, many come to us not even owning their own website.

If an agency is holding your data, or your website, hostage – you could try to sue to get it back.

But you might not win.

And lawsuits take months, if not years to work themselves out.

By the time the legal system gets around to recovering your stuff, it’s probably going to be pretty obsolete.

Businesses must insist on owning their data.

This doesn’t mean that businesses need to be the ones analyzing the data or even collecting it.

In many cases, agencies are better equipped to deal with the data.

That’s why you hire an agency.

Why You Need to Own your Data

Agency and client relationships change.

Every client eventually leaves their agency at some point. Every. Single. Client.

When a client leaves an agency, if they can’t take their data – or, god forbid, their website with them – it puts their next agency partner at a huge disadvantage.

When an agency enters into a partnership with a new client, the first step is to see what has been done in the past.

We need to know:

• What has been done?
• How the site has performed.
• What the challenges have been.

We don’t repeat mistakes of the past. And we don’t want to do extra work by implementing a strategy that has already been tried and proven to fail.

Without analytics data, new agency partners are left in the dark.

In the case above, our team had to install a new instance of Google Analytics.

We have no traffic benchmarks.

The client didn’t download any data from their previous agencies dashboards. And of course, that agency won’t give us anything now.

We can only show how well we have performed since we started managing the account.

This makes it hard for the client to evaluate our work compared to what they were getting.

But, in this case, I suspect their P&L will reflect the success of our efforts. Their site was a mess.

However, measuring success isn’t always cut and dry, especially if there are no benchmarks at the beginning of a relationship.

When we don’t have the data we can’t look back and predict any seasonal trends.

We can’t see how the site was affected by any algorithmic changes.

We can’t see how specific code implementations affected the search engine presence.

We’re blind.

What to Do When You Are Held Hostage by Your Agency

What can you do when an agency decides to hold your data hostage?

In the case cited in this article, unfortunately, there is not much we can do.

Because the analytics account tracks several different URLs, there is no way we are going to recover that data.

If the previous agency would cooperate, we could ask for specific reports that might help us establish some benchmarks – but without their cooperation, we are up the creek without a paddle.

But most of the time there are steps you can take to get your data back.

Make Sure You Own Your Data

Check your contracts.

If you don’t own your data, ask for a contract addendum, whether you plan to leave your agency or not.

If the agency refuses to add that addendum, start collecting as much data as you can.

Pull dashboard reports. Pull analytic reports.

If you are going to a new agency, hire them before you fire the old agency and ask them what data they want to have.

It’s better to have to pay two agencies for a month or so while you collect data than to move into a new relationship with no data at all.

Give Your Agency Notice Before You Leave

I’m a big fan of transparency.

Most agencies know when a relationship is about to end.

If you are going to leave an agency, give them notice.

Be prepared for the agency to work to save the account, but have faith that they will do the right thing.

But be prepared before you give notice. Not all agencies will do the right thing.

Some agencies will just stop doing any work.

But if you are prepared for that eventuality, there’s a better than average chance that the agency will cooperate with you – especially if they are a legitimate agency with a good track record.

It’s interesting to me how most companies are reluctant to tell their agency that they are planning on leaving.

Personally, I want to know if a client is leaving so I can plan and staff accordingly.

As an agency owner, if I’m about to make a new hire and I’m assuming a client’s revenue in order to make that hire – I want to know if they are going to go away so I can staff accordingly.

Agency friends – I encourage you to embrace clients that tell you when they are leaving. Trust me, it makes your life easier when they feel comfortable enough to do so.

So clients, you expect your agency to be transparent. Agencies expect the same from you.

It doesn’t help anyone to pull the rug out from under them without notice.

Conclusion

If you don’t own your own data, you need to fix that right away.

If you are using an agency that reports to you with a dashboard, make sure you can take your data if you leave.

The post <strong>Digital Extortion: Don’t Let Your Data Be Held Hostage</strong> appeared first on Lifeyet News.

While data mining certainly isn’t a free lunch (it takes work just like mining anything else), the rewards can be as splendid as silver or gold. This is because anomalies are often the basis for discovery. Mix in the fact that these things are only findable through processing power and you start to realize why data mining is such an important tool. There are, however, some things to keep in mind to get the most out of data mining tools.

Set Goals and Intentions

It’s smart to avoid starting something lacking a plan. This is particularly true when you’re dealing with large sets of data. You’ll waste a lot of time and resources starting off without a solid idea. Moreover, you could be risking the integrity and safety of the data itself.

Some people think data mining is something like rubbing a magic bottle and having a genie come out to tell the future. While it’s almost supernatural in scope, to get anywhere with data mining requires being firmly planted in reality. There needs to be the intention behind every decision put into your overarching analytics program. Understanding where data mining fits into that overall picture is part of that process.

Ensure Data is Easily Accessible and Automated

You’re not going to derive much value from data mining if you’re not analyzing all data sets. Some enterprises have data siloed away behind different permissions walls. While there are certainly reasons for doing this, it’s not helpful when trying to get the most from data mining.

Look for data mining tools that account for this by making it no issue to integrate separate data sets. This means you’re going to get a much fuller, more accurate picture when you receive results from queries. Business users, who have domain expertise, should have the capability to mine and explore the data on their own. That’s why ThoughtSpot enables organizations to incorporate unlimited users and data sources—vastly enhancing the overall quality of reports.

Furthermore, the top data mining tools will offer automation features to enhance ad hoc analysis capabilities. There are several benefits to having a fleshed-out ad hoc analytics tool in your arsenal:

• Always have the most up-to-date information – Real-time ad hoc analytics means you can get instant insights with constantly updated data. This allows for an unparalleled level of accuracy.
• More people can use data for workflow decisions – Not only do ad hoc capabilities foster a data culture, they allow for far more people to use data in their daily work. This accelerates decisions and makes the organization more efficient.
• Give data experts more time – Your top data workers don’t need to spend their time working on lower-level inquiries. Ad hoc analytics tools free up the time of data scientists and analysts to work on more pressing problems.

Make Sure Systems Are Working Properly

Your data mining efforts will all be for naught if your systems, databases, and tools aren’t working the right way. This will nullify the value of your efforts and potentially send you barreling toward disaster if you’re making decisions based on faulty information. It’s important to perform due diligence and routinely ensure all elements are working correctly so your data mining yields positive results.

Like all other aspects of data collection and analysis, there’s much to know about data mining tools. Keeping these concepts in mind will help your organization be more effective when implementing data mining tools and strategies.

The post Getting the Most from Data Mining Tools appeared first on Lifeyet News.

Also, they will have to segment the data into different categories. Then, based on the requirements, the data scientists can analyze or study the data to churn out the valuable insights from it. 

Data is not only useful for a specific industry or businesses of a certain shape and size. Rather, data is turning out to be extremely beneficial for a vast majority of the businesses, of different shapes and sizes. Starting from the big sized multinational firms to the small and medium enterprises every company is trying to make the most of the data, or the data analytics.

The real meaning of data for the startups 

Data for any startup is anything but the collection of a huge amount of information and details. The information is collected from a wide range of different sources, be it the social media platforms or the offline marketing and sales campaigns.

The information about the startup, its past and presence is also counted as data. Thus, the variety of the data for the startups is huge, it is just that they have to select the right type of data for analysis, in order to get the benefits they desire. 

Deriving ‘value’ from the vast volume data 

As mentioned above as well, data is nothing but the huge collection of information about various things. Now, that information can turn out to be highly beneficial for the businesses if it is used in the right manner. But, when it comes to utilizing the vast volume of the big data, then in that case, companies would be required to derive the value or the meaning from the data. 

In order to derive the meaning from the data, the startups would need intelligent data scientists as well as the latest data analytics tools and techniques. With the help of the right tools and techniques, the data scientists would be able to thoroughly study the data and derive benefits from it.

As, no matter how much data you have, as long as you aren’t able to churn out the insights that you need, the data is of now use. Therefore, every startups focuses on hiring the smartest professionals and adopting the best technology to study the data and get the desired insights. 

Data empowers the startups to move in the right direction

Every startup would like to move in the right direction. This helps them to void any hiccups and possible obstacles. Therefore, the entrepreneurs aim to collect and analyze the right type of data that helps them to move in the right direction. After all, every step that a startup takes has an impact on, as it is very new in the business.

Therefore, no startup would like to move in the wrong direction. Basically, data analytics and Java Development help the leaders to make the right decisions and the right strategies for the startup. And, then, the company can decide their future steps based on the decisions and plans created by the leaders.  

Data analytics helps you to learn from your mistakes 

Startup owners and the employee often tend to make mistakes as they keep trying something new. Although, the chances of repeating the mistakes should be lesser. With the help of the analysis of the right type of data the startup owners as well as the employees would find it easier to understand their mistakes and learn from it. The insights will help them to grasp the complete knowledge of what went wrong and why.

Then, based on the complete information, the leaders can take the right steps to improve and avoid such mistakes in the future. Basically, data analytics enhances the efficiency of the startups. Data analysis even helps the startups to get better funding. As, if the leaders invest more time in learning about the funding scenarios, conditions, options, markets, investors etc., then, they will be able to prepare better plans to attract the financiers.

Are you passionate about sharing your insights and expertise? We invite you to write for us! Whether you’re a seasoned writer or just starting out. We’re looking for fresh perspectives on a variety of topics, from lifestyle and wellness to technology and travel.

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