Data Mining As a Process

The data mining process is also known as knowledge discovery. It can be defined as the process of analyzing data from different perspectives and then summarizing the data into useful information in order to improve the revenue and cut the costs. The process enables categorization of data and the summary of the relationships is identified. When viewed in technical terms, the process can be defined as finding correlations or patterns in large relational databases. In this article, we look at how data mining works its innovations, the needed technological infrastructures and the tools such as phone validation.

Data mining is a relatively new term used in the data collection field. The process is very old but has evolved over the time. Companies have been able to use computers to shift over the large amounts of data for many years. The process has been used widely by the marketing firms in conducting market research. Through analysis, it is possible to define the regularity of customers shopping. How the items are bought. It is also possible to collect information needed for the establishment of revenue increase platform. Nowadays, what aides the process is the affordable and easy disk storage, computer processing power and applications developed.

Data extraction is commonly used by the companies that are after maintaining a stronger customer focus no matter where they are engaged. Most companies are engaged in retail, marketing, finance or communication. Through this process, it is possible to determine the different relationships between the varying factors. The varying factors include staffing, product positioning, pricing, social demographics, and market competition.

A data-mining program can be used. It is important note that the data mining applications vary in types. Some of the types include machine learning, statistical, and neural networks. The program is interested in any of the following four types of relationships: clusters (in this case the data is grouped in relation to the consumer preferences or logical relationships), classes (in this the data is stored and finds its use in the location of data in the per-determined groups), sequential patterns (in this case the data is used to estimate the behavioral patterns and patterns), and associations (data is used to identify associations).

In knowledge discovery, there are different levels of data analysis and they include genetic algorithms, artificial neural networks, nearest neighbor method, data visualization, decision trees, and rule induction. The level of analysis used depends on the data that is visualized and the output needed.

Nowadays, data extraction programs are readily available in different sizes from PC platforms, mainframe, and client/server. In the enterprise-wide uses, size ranges from the 10 GB to more than 11 TB. It is important to note that two crucial technological drivers are needed and are query complexity and, database size. When more data is needed to be processed and maintained, then a more powerful system is needed that can handle complex and greater queries.

With the emergence of professional data mining companies, the costs associated with process such as web data extraction, web scraping, web crawling and web data mining have greatly being made affordable.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Data-Mining-As-a-Process&id=7181033

Grepsr scraping service Review

As we reviewed web scraping software and services, we stumbled upon an interesting cloud scraping service called Grepsr. This service is dedicated to extracting consumer requested data by its own specialists with the possibility that the user may control scrape scheduling and some other data extraction steps.

Grepsr focuses on a project for scrape. You don’t need to worry about choosing an extractor, the environment to run it or DB for data storage; everything is done for you. Just give a precise description of data you need and your request will be processed. The sample request I composed took them just over 30 min. to complete the data extraction. The pricing hinges on the down payment for a project and the number of scheduled projects per month regardless of the data amount you scrape. One shortage of the UI is when scaling the page up, fonts remain the same size, irritating the eyes.

Make a Sample Project

You don’t need to log in to Grepsr before you describe your target data for a sample project.  To point at the data you might want, use the visual tools at Grepsr, the mark up box or just enter notes. The online specialist is prompt to chat with you. As you describe the extraction details and leave your contact info, a confirmation letter will be sent to you and your project will be indicated as one in process. In the following picture, I marked the needed info using the inbuilt box with the comment box appearing under the table. I was able to compose the request quickly. 

Moreover, you may specify any search filters or login info for target page(s) if needed.

Data Synchronization and Storage

For each project, you choose the way to get the data synchronized, depending on your needed output format. You may request CSV, PDF or HTML files delivered to your FTP, Dropbox or Google Docs account. Also, you may request notification about your extracted data through alerts via Email or HTTP POST.

There is currently no limit for account data storage amount. However, if the storage amount becomes excessive (GBs), the data may either be archived or deleted or there may be a cost for storage.

Payment

The project development cost is $129, regardless of complexity unless the task has a very unique requirement (then custom pricing is used). The one-time extraction limit for new project is 50K records from 1 website. The first sample will be free – but to be able to download the data daily, there will be a $99 setup fee and $50 per month per project payable after viewing the sample data, regardless of the data amount extracted.

Scheduling

Scheduling is well organized, as shown below:

Summary

Unlike many other data hunting/scraping services, Grepsr provides usable tools to manage projects and scheduling. The service is user-friendly with prompt support. If you know nothing about programming and web scraping, but you need to get a data from the web, this service is for you. But if you are a programmer and know how to extract web data, you may use another web scraping solution to have more freedom with a lower cost.

Source: http://scraping.pro/grepsr-scraping-service-review/

A range of Yellow pages scraper software to extract from the Internet

A range of software to extract from the Internet Yellow Pages

Montreal, Quebec - December 3, 2013 - Management-Ware Solutions Inc. is a Canadian based company working in the high technology field. Management-Ware Solutions is proud to launch its new product for extracting or scraping data from Yellow Pages - "Management-Ware Yellow Pages Scraper v1.0.0.4". This software can be used for collecting any type of information from different Yellow Pages domains like Yellowpages.com, Yellowpages.ca and yellowpages.com.au. Management-Ware Yellow Pages Scraper can be easily purchased and downloaded from

Our Yellow Pages Grabber is here! Use one of our Yellow Pages scrapers to build your own contact list.

Some marketers say that the fastest way to find the contact information for your target market is to buy mailing lists. Other marketers advice not to buy any list because these lists are not up-to-date.

Our Yellow Pages grabbers are designed to extract business information from the Yellow Pages directory with the latest and up-to-date information as per your customized requirement. We are offering yellow pages scraper for 3 different countries: United States, Canada and Australia.

Here are some key features of "Management-Ware Yellow Pages Scraper for USA, Canada and Australia":

    Grab online Yellow Pages business listings, phone numbers, addresses

    You can extract an unlimited number of records

    Search/ Extract by one or multiple keywords

    Search/ Extract by one or multiple URLs

    Search by keyword / by categories / by custom categories

    It supports Proxy (it hides your IP Address)

    Save data to CSV format. (CSV, Excel, html, PDF). Export to Excel

    It extracts relevant information from YP online directory

    It checks for duplicate entries in your database

    Activate the license in 2 computers

*Capture contact lists from Yellowpages.com, Yellowpages.ca and yellowpages.com.au

If you are looking for a quick and easy way to capture names, emails, addresses, phone numbers, fax numbers, and other contact details from Online directories like Yellowpages.com, then Management-Ware Yellow Pages Scraper for USA is the tool for you.

Source:http://www.management-ware.com/en/press-release/30-a-range-of-yellow-pages-scraper-software-to-extract-from-the-internet

Five Steps to Quality Essay Writing

No two writers think alike. Everyone is unique. For the same reason, everyone has his own manner of using language. But as far as the science of essay writing is concerned, there are some general parameters to be followed. While writing an essay, certain tips will help you to make it an excellent one.

1. A Well Balanced Essay

Ideas should not be written in a Chaotic or disorganized manner. There must be an easy and automatic flow. You are not supposed to stop an essay in the middle of a hot issue. Proceed in such a way that each and every sentence must guide you to the conclusion. The beginning, the middle and the end must be crystal clear to the readers. How you begin, how you proceed and how you end up; all have equal importance in the assessment of an essay.

A well begun stuff pushes the readers to keep on reading it. Though the middle portion of the essay bears the essence of your topic, the conclusion is not of less importance. In short, each and every part of an essay is next to nothing.

2. Too Much is Too Bad

Never go for marathon writing. Essays must not be too long. It kills the grandeur of your work. Write the relevant points using minimum number of words which are apt and attractive. Though there are no strict rules governing the length of the essays, it is always desirable to finish it with 350 words. However you are free to break this unwritten law to a certain extent, considering the seriousness of your subject matter. A topic which requires much statements and explanations can take a little more length. But keep in mind the above said words; Too much is too bad.

3. Be up-to-the-minute

No need to mention the importance of 'knowledge chase' in the process of every type of writings. All findings start when you start finding the apt source. But don't be cheated by resources which are outdated. Be accurate in selecting the right assistance.

You can surpass your fellow students by attempting something new. Go for innovation in whatever field you indulge in. Any creative writing stuff can be made exceptional by clinging on to latest information on air. It shows that you are keeping the right pace with the world around.

4. Style par excellent

Don't use unnatural and unfamiliar words. An inclination to use these types of words seems to be made-up. A highly intricate language with full of unnecessary ornamentation leads the reader to finish reading from the middle. Use natural expressions in a novel way. Don't make sentences too complicated and too polished. Let them be interactive and conversing. Make it a thorough piece of objective one.

5. A flavor of personal touch

Study an issue from a number of possible angles. After finding creative assistance from experienced hands, add your own opinion. Give a personal touch to it. As far as your assignment is concerned, what others said is only secondary. An essay should not be a collection of the opinions of great writers and orators. There should be your stamp in it. Your own feelings and outlooks make the essay solely yours. Never be under the impression that you are second to somebody. Think that you are a person of importance. Crush the psychological barrier to include your individuality in your writings. Keep in mind; you are capable of doing anything great.

Source:http://ezinearticles.com/?Five-Steps-to-Quality-Essay-Writing&id=3127797

Internet Data Mining - How Does it Help Businesses?

Internet has become an indispensable medium for people to conduct different types of businesses and transactions too. This has given rise to the employment of different internet data mining tools and strategies so that they could better their main purpose of existence on the internet platform and also increase their customer base manifold.

Internet data-mining encompasses various processes of collecting and summarizing different data from various websites or webpage contents or make use of different login procedures so that they could identify various patterns. With the help of internet data-mining it becomes extremely easy to spot a potential competitor, pep up the customer support service on the website and make it more customers oriented.

There are different types of internet data_mining techniques which include content, usage and structure mining. Content mining focuses more on the subject matter that is present on a website which includes the video, audio, images and text. Usage mining focuses on a process where the servers report the aspects accessed by users through the server access logs. This data helps in creating an effective and an efficient website structure. Structure mining focuses on the nature of connection of the websites. This is effective in finding out the similarities between various websites.

Also known as web data_mining, with the aid of the tools and the techniques, one can predict the potential growth in a selective market regarding a specific product. Data gathering has never been so easy and one could make use of a variety of tools to gather data and that too in simpler methods. With the help of the data mining tools, screen scraping, web harvesting and web crawling have become very easy and requisite data can be put readily into a usable style and format. Gathering data from anywhere in the web has become as simple as saying 1-2-3. Internet data-mining tools therefore are effective predictors of the future trends that the business might take.

Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?Internet-Data-Mining---How-Does-it-Help-Businesses?&id=3860679

6 Beginner Tips For Creating A Solid Social Media Marketing Strategy

Most small business owners already know that if you’re not using social media marketing, you’re simply missing the boat. Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, and many newcomers to the scene represent excellent ways to get the word out about your biz. With all of these sites at your disposal and all the methods with which to use them, however, the process can seem overwhelming. Instead of getting frustrated and giving up, know that there is a method to the madness – and embrace it. Read on to learn how to develop and maintain an effective social media strategy for your small business.

1. Start With the Most Successful Sites

Facebook and Twitter continue to maintain a foothold as two of the most popular social media websites, althoughPinterest and Google Plus are moving up rapidly. Unless there’s a major shift in the social media landscape, though, those first two websites are your best bets for launching a campaign. If you’re already there, work on maximizing your effectiveness on them. If you’re not, get started now.

2. Investigate Lesser Known Sites

Have you ever heard of StumbleUpon? New social media websites are popping up all the time and you never know where your next set of customers is going to come from. The more saturated the top platforms become, the harder it’s going to be to reach an audience on them – your voice may be more easily heard in smaller rooms. Of course, don’t take that as license to veer away from Facebook and Twitter, but do investigate these other sites as time permits.

3. Place a Key Focus on Content Quality

No matter where you go with your social strategy, content is always going to be key. Never post anything less than your best work. If it’s an image on Pinterest, make sure it’s high quality. If it’s a tweet, make those few words impactful. Just because you’re limited to 140 characters doesn’t mean quality should suffer. For all posts, draw upon your industry experience to provide lesser known details and advice, and once you come up with a posting schedule, scale it back if your quality begins to suffer. This point can’t be emphasized enough.

4. Track Your Efforts

It’s essential that you monitor the progress of your social media campaign so you know what’s working and what isn’t. Even though Facebook and Twitter do work for most small businesses, they might not work for you. UseHootSuite or Google Analytics to effectively keep up on the success of each of your individual campaigns.

5. Effectively Adjust Your Strategy

Next, act on your results. If Twitter isn’t giving you the boost you expected, you might not want to abandon it, just tweak your strategy or devote less of a focus to it. If a newer player like Tumblr or Reddit doesn’t show any signs of life, eliminate it and move on to something else like Instagram or Digg. Gathering data on your social strategy is important, but that does nothing if you don’t put it to good use.

6. Always Respond to Comments

No matter where you market via social media, you can’t realize any individual site’s full potential without responding to each and every comment. Even if it’s simply acknowledging and thanking a reader for taking the time, this can have a positive effect. If you encounter negative comments, jump on them immediately. These are only blemishes on your reputation if you do nothing about them. First off, be governed by the notion that the customer is always right.

There’s nothing more off-putting than a Twitter fight between a business owner and a patron, even if you’re sure you’re correct. Take this opportunity to acknowledge any grievances and make up for them ten-fold, publicly. Turn that complaint into an asset and you’ve not only won over that customer, but all the others who read the exchange.

Final Thoughts

No social media strategy can succeed without an appropriate amount of time devoted to it. If your budget doesn’t have room to hire a social media manager, you’re going to have to wear that hat yourself. In order to free up the needed time, organize your day, schedule your most difficult projects for when you’re at your best (either morning or evening) and eliminate any unnecessary interruptions.

Stop spending time on useless phone calls from telemarketers and other folks who don’t serve your business needs. Get yourself physically fit so you perform at a high level each and every day, and take your breaks. Don’t feel bad about going out for a walk or for lunch each day, because your business is going to benefit from your refreshed mind. Social media marketing is important, but only if you’re fully up to the task.

How did you go about creating your social strategy? Leave your tips in the comments below!

Source: http://www.business2community.com/social-media/6-beginner-tips-creating-solid-social-media-marketing-strategy-0783129#!wIkYk

Snowden Used Basic Web Scraping Tools In NSA Breach

Edward Snowden, the man behind the explosive leaks on mass surveillance carried out by the National Security Agency and GCHQ, used widely-available web crawlers to grab the data he needed from the US intelligence body.

The reports have caused concern over the NSA’s abilities to prevent insider attacks, as the simple software used should have triggered security warnings.

Whilst working as an NSA contractor for Booz Allen Hamilton in Hawaii, it’s believed he used the crawlers, which usually carry out legitimate searching and indexing of websites, as he went about his day job, according to a senior intelligence official speaking with the New York Times.

Snowden’s insider attack

“We do not believe this was an individual sitting at a machine and downloading this much material in sequence,” the source said.

The insider attack should have been easily detected, especially given Chelsea Manning (then known as Bradley Manning) had made off with US government data three years earlier before she handed it over to WikiLeaks. Manning was said to have used similarly automated techniques to acquire files.

Snowden, who used the scraping technique to make off with 1.7 million files, likely benefitted from working at a contractor rather than inside the NSA headquarters at Fort Meade, where better security controls were in place.

He was questioned a number of times about his activities, but explained them away by saying it was simply part of his job as a systems administrator to do network maintenance.

In a new book called “The Snowden Files”, by Guardian correspondent Luke Harding, the author claims Snowden actively sought a job at Booz Allen, as it granted him more security privileges than his previous employer, Dell.

Snowden, in a statement delivered through his lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union, said: “It’s ironic that officials are giving classified information to journalists in an effort to discredit me for giving classified information to journalists. The difference is that I did so to inform the public about the government’s actions, and they’re doing so to misinform the public about mine.”

It was previously reported Snowden was able to gain access to various parts of the NSA network after he convinced colleagues to hand over passwords.

Source: http://www.techweekeurope.co.uk/news/snowden-web-crawlers-nsa-insider-attack-138576