Category: Everything about the Web

Seven Ultimate Tips to Make Your Wi-Fi Faster and Secure

Seven Ultimate Tips to Make Your Wi-Fi Faster and Secure.  Available from <http://www.nigeriatoday.ng/2016/12/seven-ultimate-tips-to-make-your-wi-fi-faster-and-secure/> [Dec 04, 2016]

The wireless internet is one of the most important things in a person’s life nowadays. This is the age of connectivity. People always like to be connected to the world no matter where they are. Wireless internet has provided the flexibility and mobility to internet users since anyone can use the internet at any location connecting with the world without cables and wires.

Privacy is also an important issue regarding wireless internet. If the connection is not secure then there is a possibility of leaking important and private information. You can improve the functionality and security of Wi-Fi by following some simple and easy tips.

1. Paying attention to the admin username and password:

If you rely on the username and password provided by the admin then your network is not secure. Using the default passwords and usernames makes the network vulnerable. It makes it easy for an outsider to access the network. If unauthorized people are using the network, it will compromise the speed of the network. The privacy of the network will also be comprised as unauthorized people can easily access sensitive information such as contact information. In order to avoid this, frequently change usernames and passwords by accessing router settings.

2. Changing the name of the network:

Every network shows a name which is broadcast to people so that they can identify the network. It is known as the service set identifier (SSID). You make the SSID public so that you can find it easily, but it is better to avoid generic names. It makes it easier for people to identify the network. It may be a mundane task for you, but simply changing the name of your network through router settings can easily discourage people from accessing it. When you change the names it will make it difficult for any unauthorized users to use again. When changing the name, make sure you remember it so that you can reconnect on your devices.

3. Disabling the remote management:

If the remote setting of the router allows open access, it can have an adverse effect on the performance of Wi-Fi and it can compromise security as well. Most router manufacturers only offer access to controls which are LAN-based by default. If that is not the case, then you need to check whether or not the control interface of the router is available on a web page. If the interface is available, make sure to apply the restriction settings for maintaining privacy. Restrictions such as parental control, media control access numbers, and MAC addresses can be changed through router settings to only allow select computers to access the network.

4. Turning on the encryption settings:

Quietly apply the encryption settings on your router. Encryption basically secures the communication your PC has with the router, and if this is not encrypted anyone with access to your network can hack the information before it reaches your router. Most routers come with encryption off and many users simply do not know about this. It is always critical to turn on the encryption settings and apply WPA level of encryption through router settings.

5. Keeping the routers up to date:

Not updating the routers is a terrible mistake because it causes several vulnerabilities. If the software is not up to date, then you are giving an invitation to hackers to take advantage of you. It can compromise the safety of the network and all personal information can land in the wrong hands. Keeping the software up to date will help improve the speed significantly. Every new update released by the manufacturer improves the security features available on the routers and if you do not update the router firmware, it is more likely that your network can easily be penetrated by unauthorized users.

6. Turning off Wi-Fi when not using:

It is best to switch off your wifi at night or if you are leaving home. Turning it off will make the router less obvious to find and can take it off the radar of unauthorized users.

7. Ideal placing of router:

The speed of Wi-Fi depends a lot on where you place it. If you want to get better signals in the whole house then make sure that it is in the middle of the house. This will improve the speed a lot and it will also keep the network safe because the signal reach will not be strong outside the house.

With the help of these simple and easy tips, you can improve both speed and security of your wireless internet.

Seven Ultimate Tips to Make Your Wi-Fi Faster and Secure.  Available from <http://www.nigeriatoday.ng/2016/12/seven-ultimate-tips-to-make-your-wi-fi-faster-and-secure/> [Dec 04, 2016]

 

 

5 Essential Steps to Take Before Launching Your First Site

5 Essential Steps to Take Before Launching Your First Site by .  Available from <http://tech.co/5-essential-steps-to-take-before-launching-your-first-site-2016-12> [December 7, 2016; 9:15 am]

hind every successful product or service is a great website. This is because in today’s digital age every business needs a high-performing and aesthetically pleasing online home where consumers can learn more about its offerings. Although the process of creating a site is easier than ever thanks to the hundreds of site creation options available, the process of creating a site that can actually perform for your company is still pretty complex.

Although it may be tempting to sign up and build your new site on the first template service you see an ad for, take a moment to think about your company’s needs as it grows first. There are several key areas where entrepreneurs should focus as they create their first website in order to set the site up for success in the future.

Here are five essential steps you should take before launching your first website.

1. Choose a Relevant Domain Name

Most website creation services will allow you to host your site within their domain. The problem is, doing so tags the service’s name onto your domain name, which clues site visitors in to the fact that you didn’t pay for your own hosting. The first step you should take in securing a solid domain name is to choose a reliable hosting service that is secure and capable of handling your site’s needs. Check out PC Mag’s guide to the top hosting services of 2016 if you’re not sure which hosting services are highly rated among site owners.

Once you have a hosting service that will allow you to create your own domain name, select a domain name that will be intuitive in a consumer’s mind when he or she is looking to visit your site. This not only helps you further establish your brand, but it also helps consumers find you without having to look up your business first. You can use a domain lookup tool like this one to find out if the domain you have in mind is already taken. If it is, the tool will provide several suggestions for similar domain names that aren’t already taken which could help you identify an available option that is relevant to your brand.

2. Work With a Versatile CMS

The site you build now will need to be updated regularly as your brand grows and industry needs and demands change. This is why it’s important to begin with a CMS (content management system) that is versatile enough for web developers and designers to go in and make changes as necessary in the future.

The most widely used CMS among the creative industry is WordPress. This is because the platform is customizable, SEO friendly, easy to use and navigate, secure, and flexible. All of this essentially means that it is an excellent platform to build and grow a successful site within. Wordpress benefits site owners and the creatives who work on their sites.

3. Invest in Design

Templates have made it easier than ever to build and alter your own site. If you have the resources to hire a designer and would prefer to go that route, great! If not, a DIY template is a great way to get going on your site, so long as you avoid free themes at all costs.

Free templates and WordPress themes might seem appealing at first, but there are several issues you might run into later on down the road if you opt for a free option rather than investing a small amount in a paid theme.

First of all, free themes look like free themes. They are pretty generic and don’t do much to help your brand stand out from competitors in its field. Second, they often don’t come with all the bells and whistles you’ll need and aren’t guaranteed to be responsive.

Some of the top themes for WordPress run for around $59, which means you can get a high quality WordPress theme for your site that includes everything you need without breaking the bank.

4. Run CRO Testing

Even if you pick the coolest WordPress theme, it can do very little for you if you don’t do your part to create solid user experience on your end. This is where CRO, or conversion rate optimization, testing comes in.

Your conversion rate shows how many visitors who come to your site actually convert to customers. Conversion rate optimization basically means taking a strategic approach to improving the performance of your site by defining your site’s goals, collecting consumer insights, and making the most of the traffic your site receives based on what you’ve learned from AB testing and consumer feedback.

CRO is an important process that should be implemented prior to your site’s launch to ensure it is able to perform to its highest potential for your brand.

Quicksprout and Qualaroo both offer up excellent CRO testing guides for beginners if you need some help getting started. If you’re already familiar with CRO testing, I recommend checking out this Tech.co article for some excellent tips for refining your strategy.

5. Make Sure It’s Mobile Friendly

A user’s ability to access and view your site easily from a mobile device has always been important. However, it’s become increasingly important now that Google has officially announced an algorithmic change that favors sites with mobile-friendly design.

Changes to Google’s ranking algorithm now push sites that are not mobile-friendly down in the search results and boosts those that are mobile friendly up in ranking. If your site doesn’t pass Google’s test for mobile-friendliness, it could be difficult for consumers to find it as they search relevant terms in the search engine.

Speak with a designer or enlist the help of an SEO to find out how you can make your site mobile friendly. Building your first website is equal parts exciting and nerve-wracking. Despite the frustration, keep focused on the details and implement these tips throughout the creative process to build a site with a solid foundation.

5 Essential Steps to Take Before Launching Your First Site by .  Available from <http://tech.co/5-essential-steps-to-take-before-launching-your-first-site-2016-12> [December 7, 2016; 9:15 am]

 

Seven Tips For Building A Better Website To Convert Visitors Into Sales

Seven Tips For Building A Better Website To Convert Visitors Into Sales by autokid.  Available from <http://techfeatured.com/automotive/1945/seven-tips-for-building-a-better-website-to-convert-visitors-into-sales> [November 15, 2016] Photo Credit: flickr.com/medithIT

Ever wonder how to make your website better and ultimately increase your sales? Well, we’ve put together a quick guide to building a better website.

1. Make Sure Your Website Conveys Your Key Message Within 30 Seconds

When a visitor comes to your website, they should be able to easily see and navigate what options they have and be able to select one quickly. It should take less than 30 seconds for the visitor to load a web page and able to decide what to do next. If it takes longer than that, you’ll likely lose your audience. Remember, people have a short attention span and you only have seconds to win their hearts, so their mind will follow.

That means two things:

Make sure your page layout is clear and concise enough that with a quick glance, visitors can grasp your key message, and navigate to the information they want to learn about.

Do not overdo it on design and flash pages

2. Easy Navigation Means Easier And Improved Web Sales

Making your website easy to navigate is critical. Lots of small factors add up to create easy navigation and continuation of the sales funnel. For example, the best thing to do is to keep the number of steps to one or two options. The more steps a visitor has to go through, the more chances you’ll lose them as a customer.

The average human mind sees four or five items as one group, but when it encounters more than five items, it has to divide into small sub-groups to process them. It makes more sense to have your website have five (no more than six) navigation tabs. It makes it easier for your visitors to quickly find information and select where they want to go.

3. Keep Your Website Simple

One of the keys to a good website is simplicity. You’ve heard of the “KISS” principle? Keep It Simple Silly. This applies doubly for a website.

It’s easy to fall into the trap of using every possible feature for a website. If you add too much, beit offers, headlines, copy, flash elements, oversized fonts and a whole slew of other widgets, it’s likely your visitor is going to be overwhelmed.

4. Simple, Not Boring

Simple does not necessarily mean dull and boring. Many people confuse fancy widgets and effects with effective communication. What keeps it simple really means this: think about how people will be viewing your website and present your information to them in a way that emotionally connects with their needs and expectations.

Clean Design / Navigation + Clear Benefits = Good Website That Converts Visitors Into Sales

5. Good Website Navigation Means Information Should Be Only Three Clicks Away

One good rule to ensure website visitors is to make information be no more than three clicks away. One way to frustrate visitors – and thus get them to leave your site – is to make it hard to find information they want.

6. Benefits And Words Matter

Remember your fifth grade English teacher? Remember how she told you that good spelling and grammar was important? She was right.

The internet has far too many websites whose creators forgot the basics. Just because your website is online or your website might have many pages, it does not mean you can not forget to get back to the basics and make sure the words are correct. Your visitors will appreciate your professionalism.

7. A Website Design Is Important

75% of people make judgments about a website based on the look. So, it’s important that your website has a good design balance and has appealing graphics.

A balance between text and graphics. Unless the content dictates an all-text or an all-graphics site, use common sense and aesthetic judgment so that one does not overwhelm the other. Of course, it’s always a good idea to consult a professional advertising agency or graphic artist about creative development. Or at the very least look at other websites to get ideas on good design.

Seven Tips For Building A Better Website To Convert Visitors Into Sales by autokid.  Available from <http://techfeatured.com/automotive/1945/seven-tips-for-building-a-better-website-to-convert-visitors-into-sales> [November 15, 2016] Photo Credit: flickr.com/medithIT

Tips On How to Solve the Shopping Cart Abandonment Puzzle

Tips On How to Solve the Shopping Cart Abandonment Puzzle by Lucy Maher.  Available from <http://paymentweek.com/2016-11-14-tips-on-how-to-solve-the-shopping-cart-abandonment-puzzle-11984/> [Nov 14, 2016]

You can design your website to be mobile-friendly, engage the right search engine optimization (SEO) strategy to attract eyeballs, and create compelling content to engage visiting consumers.

But if your checkout process has inefficiencies, you could potentially lose sales from customers who abandon their shopping cart – an outcome that is more common than one may think, and for reasons that could easily be avoidable.

“Shopping cart abandonment can happen simply because the retailer didn’t accept the customer’s form of payment,” said Keith Wilson, Head of Integrated Payments at Discover Global Network. “In a case like that, I’d advise retailers that when building out their e-commerce platform, make sure they’re connected with an acquirer and/or gateway that specializes in mobile and web payment systems to ensure they’re given as many payment options as possible. Solving for customer pain points can help to keep quality of the checkout experience high, and shopping cart abandonment low.”

Just how often are shopping carts left full without purchase? According to the Baymard Institute, an ecommerce usability research institute, 68.81 percent of online shopping carts are abandoned. The most common reasons? Everything from slow load times and unclear return policies, to a “too-lengthy” checkout process and difficult to find coupon codes[1].

Indeed, “there are many components along the digital shopping journey that are broken and create opportunities for cart abandonment,” says Jordan McKee, senior analyst, mobile payments, at 451 Research. “When solving for cart abandonment, retailers should let simplicity, immediacy and context serve as their guiding principles.”[2]

Invest In Digital Wallets

Time-consuming forms and the requirement to key in payment card credentials create plenty of chances for the prospective buyer to leave the site and perhaps never to return again. Some retailers are addressing this issue by implementing digital wallets that streamline the checkout process and remove elements of friction.

Craig L. Aberle, Publisher of pointsofsale.com, raises a good point.

“If I’m 55 and trying to buy something on my iPhone, can I simply check out with Paypal in one or two clicks, or, must I struggle with my reading glasses and enter a credit card number, address and all kinds of information?” he asks. “That is a real problem for me, as an older consumer. Also, if I am sitting in a public place, and I don’t want to take my credit card out of my wallet—I will not make a purchase. Think about adding Apple Pay, Android Pay, Samsung Pay, or Paypal to your check out page.”

Install a Progress Indicator

Once potential customers have selected their products and placed them in their online shopping cart, they want to know how long the checkout process is and at what stage they are in.

While there are ways to streamline the process—including relying on digital wallets to cut down on the number of steps—a simple way to keep consumers abreast of their progress is to clearly spell it out for them with a progress indicator. This feature highlights the customer’s place in the checkout journey and how many steps there will be until they are finished.

Understand the Importance of Mobile Design

“Many retailers are also losing sales due to their lack of responsive design on mobile sites,” says McKee. “That’s because mobile is becoming the de-facto platform for commerce, yet not all retailers have optimized their e-commerce sites for this transition, creating a poor user experience[3].”

Indeed, perhaps nothing irks a customer more than going to a brand site on their mobile phone and having to pinch and scroll because the site is designed purely for those visiting on a desktop or laptop.

Instead, “forward-thinking retailers should increasingly think mobile-first to ensure they are providing experiences consistent with their shoppers’ browsing behaviors,”[4] he says. This means hiring a web design firm to design your site for use on both a computer and smartphone or tablet.

Rely On Thumbnails to Keep Consumers Interested

With so many opportunities to abandon their carts, providing thumbnails — or small photos about the size of a postage stamp — of a user’s intended purchases throughout the checkout process could be one way to keep them wanting to complete their transaction. Think about it: when you shop in a brick and mortar store, you keep your intended purchases with you. Why would they disappear during the mobile shopping experience?

“E-tailers and retailers should be careful to use smaller sized graphics that load quickly on mobile devices,” says Aberle.

Follow these rules of thumb and you could be spending less time wondering why your customers aren’t hitting “confirm purchase” and more time counting a potential increase in sales.

Tips On How to Solve the Shopping Cart Abandonment Puzzle by Lucy Maher.  Available from <http://paymentweek.com/2016-11-14-tips-on-how-to-solve-the-shopping-cart-abandonment-puzzle-11984/> [Nov 14, 2016]

14 Key Facts on Website Speed and 4 Top Tips When It’s Slow

14 Key Facts on Website Speed and 4 Top Tips When It’s Slow by Rob Petersen.  Available <http://www.business2community.com/web-design/14-key-facts-website-speed-4-top-tips-slow-01701900#bC5Rzk6Xb9TZik9O.97> [Nov 14, 2016]

Website speed has long been recognized as a important factor that impacts search engine rankings. And a top factor in Search Engine Optimization (SEO).

Slow website speed creates a bad user experience, one that may result in visitors not coming back to your website or going to your competition. And that it even more important than search rank because search engines don’t buy products, people do.

Is website speed a concern for your site? If it is, what can you do about it?

Here are 14 key facts on website speed and 4 top fixes when it’s slow.

14 KEY FACTS ON WEBSITE SPEED

  1. 80% of a Web page’s load time is spent downloading the different pieces—parts of the page: images, style sheets, scripts, Flash, etc. (Yahoo!)
  2. 79% of web shoppers who have trouble with website performance say they won’t return to the site again. (KissMetrics)
  3. 73% of mobile internet users say that they’ve encountered a website that is too slow to load. (Fiverr)
  4. 51% of mobile internet users say that they’ve encountered a website that crashed, froze, or received an error. (Raven)
  5. 47% of consumers expect a website speed page load in 2 seconds or less. (Innovation Insights)
  6. 44% of them would tell a friend if they had a poor experience shopping online. (GlobalDots)
  7. 40% abandon websites that take more than 3 seconds to load. (KissMetrics)
  8. 38% of mobile internet users say that they’ve encountered a website that wasn’t available. (Shoprocket)
  9. 22% is the average increase in website load speed per year. (Radware)
  10. 18% of mobile users will abandon a website if it doesn’t load in less than 5 seconds. If it takes more than 10 seconds to load, 30% will abandon the site. (KissMetrics)
  11. 5 seconds is the average page load time this year. (Pingdom)
  12. A 1 second delay in page response can result in a 7% reduction in conversions. (eConsultancy)
  13. If an e-commerce site is making $100,000 per day, a 1 second page delay could potentially cost you $2.5 million in lost sales every year. (Amazon)
  14. Users begin to drop off a site when its response time is longer than 2.5 seconds. (Forrester)

4 TOP TIPS WHEN IT’S SLOW

  1. Website hosting: The website hosting provider and technology you choose can have a significant effect on your page load times. Dedicated hosting solutions are preferable over shared hosting so you do not have to worry about other websites on the same server as yours slowing your website down.
  2. Enable browser caching: The first time someone comes to your website, they have to download the HTML document, style sheets, JavaScript files and images before being able to use your page. That may be as many as 30 components and 2.4 seconds. Fortunately, certain website platform like WordPress offer caching plug-ins. They require setup and testing but can be a big help with your website recognizing and quickly processing the many elements it has to.
  3. Optimize images: Oversized images take longer to load, so it’s important that you keep your images as small as possible. Use image editing tools to:
    • Crop your images to the correct size. For instance, if your page is 570 px wide, resize the image to that width.
    • Reduce color depth to the lowest acceptable level.
    • Remove image comments.
  4. Optimize CSS imagery: CSS holds the style requirements for your page. Generally, your website accesses this information in one of two ways: in an external file, which loads before your page renders, and inline, which is inserted in the HTML document itself. When setting up your styles, only use one external CSS style sheet since additional style sheets increase HTTP requests. Two resources to help are:

If website speed is important for you, a good tool to examine website speed for your site is Google PageSpeed Insights. This is a good resource to get started, help understand your website speed and what top tips will be the biggest help if your website speed is slow.

Did this teach you something new about website speed?

14 Key Facts on Website Speed and 4 Top Tips When It’s Slow by Rob Petersen.  Available <http://www.business2community.com/web-design/14-key-facts-website-speed-4-top-tips-slow-01701900#bC5Rzk6Xb9TZik9O.97> [Nov 14, 2016]