Tag: Web Renovators

7 Cyber Security Tips for 2017

7 Cyber Security Tips for 2017 by Andrew Deen.  Available from <http://www.business2community.com/cybersecurity/7-cyber-security-tips-2017-01711398> [November 22, 2016]

You don’t have to look far to find examples of cyber security breaches – they happen every day, in nearly every industry and country. While many smaller breaches don’t make headlines, others affect millions and have lasting effects on businesses. On November 14th, 2016, millions of Americans were reminded that Internet privacy is fragile, when a breach was discovered on the adult websites of FriendFinder Networks LLC. The company estimates that 412 million records were compromised, making the security breach the biggest of 2016, just as the year draws to a close.

With so many records exposed, FriendFinder will have to do extensive damage control, and likely respond to lawsuits and investigation by the Federal Trade Commission, as Ashley Madison did last year during its much smaller breach. For businesses, the cost of a breach can be devastating. While it’s not always possible to prevent a breach, having proper cyber security protocols in place can help reduce the likelihood of a breach and make recovering from a security event much easier, should one occur. Here are 7 tips to help get your business’s cyber security ready for the threats of 2017.

Ensure employees know safe protocols for social networking sites

It’s easy to forget that the Internet is a public resource, and privacy is not guaranteed, even on social networking sites. If your employees use social networks on company devices (and many do), educating them on safety protocols for social networks is crucial to preserving cyber security. Here are just a few reminders to give your team:

  • Always assume that everything you post is public, even if your settings are set to “friends only”. You never know who will share what you post.
  • You can’t take anything back once it’s been posted. Even deleting a post won’t necessarily remove all the copies of the information available.
  • Don’t post any identifiable information, like your address or daily routines. This goes for business secrets as well.
  • Be considerate of the information you post about others.
  • Be wary of strangers. You never know the intent of someone you meet online

Establish cyber security training for all employees

You can’t blame your employees for unsafe cyber security habits if they haven’t been taught how to protect the sensitive information your company retains. Develop protocols for protecting your business’s data so that everyone can be on the same page for cyber security. Establish cyber security training for all new and existing employees. Because knowledge can fade over time, and protocols can change, offering periodic review trainings should also be a priority.

Add encryption protocols

Encryption has been used since ancient times to code messages that could only be read by authorized parties. Today, encryption technology uses advanced algorithms to make data unreadable except by those with the correct key. Encryption is a must for businesses protecting sensitive information, such as patient records or customer credit card information.

Keep software and browsers up to date

Vulnerabilities often occur when software and browsers are not updated on a regular basis. Software manufacturers periodically release updates for their programs, which often include security updates. Cyber criminals are always changing their methods for breaching security systems, and software companies are forced to keep up with them, constantly improving on their security measures. Take advantage of these updates, and don’t leave your operating systems, browsers, and anti-virus software vulnerable.

Use multi-factor authentication technology

Passwords can be compromised, and once they are, it’s easy for criminals to gain access. Multi-factor authentication requires an extra step to log in, whether that means email authentication, or a text message sent to users’ phones. While these protocols often spark protest from employees, they are a great way to ensure an additional layer of security.

Ensure the security of Wi-Fi networks

Access to your business’s Wi-Fi network is a huge benefit to cyber criminals. Keeping your network safe requires a few extra steps than setting up a home router. Use a firewall, and hide your network name from broadcasting to help protect it. Require a strong password for Wi-Fi access.

Implement protocols from the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Framework

The U.S. government is taking cyber security seriously, and they’ve put together a framework of protocols for safe security systems. Take some time to go over the information, and see how you can implement these protocols to protect your business.

Don’t Get Complacent in 2017

Even if you’ve never fallen victim to a data breach personally or professionally (and 1 in 5 Americans have), 2017 is not the time to become complacent. As we continue to move online more and more, breaches will continue to increase. Implement these tips for your business, and move a few steps closer to optimized cyber security!

7 Cyber Security Tips for 2017 by Andrew Deen.  Available from <http://www.business2community.com/cybersecurity/7-cyber-security-tips-2017-01711398> [November 22, 2016]

The Importance of Placing Instagram in Your Digital Marketing Strategy

The Importance of Placing Instagram in Your Digital Marketing Strategy by Diogo Costa.  Available from <http://tech.co/instagram-digital-marketing-strategy-2016-11> [November 20, 2016; 12:45 pm]

Since 2010, Instagram has done nothing but grow. Today, there are more than five hundred million users in this social network, which focuses primarily on images and can be accessed from mobile devices and computers alike. But Instagram is actually much more than just a collection of beautifully taken photos – it can be essential to a digital marketing strategy.

Insightful entrepreneurs have already realized the power and the impact that this social network can have on their sales and exposure. Instagram is no longer just a place to follow your friends, as users also follow brands, companies, bloggers, institutions, and magazines, among others. Thus, Instagram has become an excellent platform to promote products and services.

Instagram Tips

There are several tips that will help you take advantage of Instagram in your digital marketing strategy. The first is that, if you lack the time to take care of this, do not skip it – Instagram can be quite important these days so, if you or your company cannot deal with it, leave it in the hands of someone who has experience in the field.

Vibbi is a company specialized and focused in Instagram-related marketing and strategies, offering many services and tools to improve that part of your business. Their service is established in three main basis: promoting your brand, backing up your content, and keeping you up with Instagram’s latest news and trends. Vibbi is then a safe bet to help with your Instagram strategy, if you cannot handle it.

New Content Is a Necessity

Other than this service, there are additional tips that anyone can apply. It is important to publish new content regularly, but without “over-posting.” The quality of the photos is important, just like it’s important to diversify the content and be creative. Publishing your products is key, but keep some variation by publishing about other subjects related to your business field, for example.

Another important aspect is to get as close as possible from the public target and followers. Hashtags are quite important for this, as they help you find users interested in your field, which can be used to create your following. After this, you should keep followers engaged, and a good move for this is to inspire them. For example, if your field is fitness, then photos of athletes in action are a great option.

Engage Your Followers

Communication with your followers is also essential, so leave comments on their photos, reply to their questions and doubts, and be sure to mark partners, such as suppliers, clients, and collaborators on your photos. Last but not least, sales and discounts are also quite popular with clients, so do not keep those on a drawer.

Social networks are extremely useful for companies to build an intimate relationship with their customers and want to show a more human side to the general public. Instagram is the prime example of that. Whether using the services of a specialized company or doing it yourself, Instagram can be essential for your digital marketing strategy, so really do not skip the opportunity.

The Importance of Placing Instagram in Your Digital Marketing Strategy by Diogo Costa.  Available from <http://tech.co/instagram-digital-marketing-strategy-2016-11> [November 20, 2016; 12:45 pm]

4 Tips For Preparing for SEO in 2017

4 Tips For Preparing for SEO in 2017 by Jason Parks.  Available from <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/young-entrepreneur-council/4-tips-for-preparing-for-_b_13042722.html> [11/21/2016 10:32 am ET]

If the casual hockey fan’s favorite team had the worst record in the league, they’d assume the future was bleak. Analysts, scouts and diehard fans who know the behind-the-scenes activities of the organization would understand that the opposite was true: It means their hometown team had been drafting outstanding talent that had been developing at rapid pace in the minor leagues. Additionally, their team was bound to hold a top three pick in the draft, which would be stockpiled with the talent needed to fill missing holes on their roster.

The future of SEO and PR is similar to the bottom dweller in hockey. There were droves of people saying PR and SEO was “dead” in 2011. As we approach 2017, this couldn’t be further from the truth.

Start Drafting Wisely

If you own a business or work in marketing, you need to start planning for the future and investing in digital PR to beat out the competition. You can either hire talent for your own team, or find a reputable marketing agency to assist or consult in this effort. My team has combined digital PR and social media campaigns for Fortune 500 brands that made a major impact on their bottom line.

If you draft your team wisely, your business can catapult from the third or fourth page of Google onto page one. A “digital unicorn,” someone who has PR expertise and a firm grasp on digital marketing, will get your business referenced on external sites through PR connections, outreach and great content creation, which is valuable from an SEO perspective. This person should also know how to create videos and perfect them in Final Cut, edit with Photoshop and code HTML.

It’s important that the person you are looking to hire has achieved past success when it comes to their own digital PR. Have they been published online on a well-known site? Have they had a social media campaign go viral? Whether they achieved success for themselves or the company they previously worked for, make sure this candidate has real life examples to prove that they will be a valuable asset for your business.

Work Around Google’s Core Algorithm

If you follow or work in the SEO or digital marketing industry, you are aware that Google values quality content. Gone are the days where you can manipulate Google’s search engine with low-quality content. You need to constantly be increasing your domain authority.

To do so, start to build trust in your brand. If you are a dermatologist and write content on a health and beauty site about “best facial cleansers,” this is a strength indicator in Google’s eyes, especially if the site links back to you. If you post unforgettable social media content about skincare tips, this will likely result in other people interacting with your brand and visiting your site. Ultimately, the more people talk about your brand, the higher likelihood you will have to acquire powerful backlinks. Try posting video content or plan a half-day photoshoot to truly make your content stand out.

Try Implementing SEO and PR Services

  • Help A Reporter Out (HARO) is one of the greatest tools for PR and SEO any business owner or digital marketer can make use of. It’s free and generates amazing exposure. HARO provides journalists with a robust database of sources for upcoming stories and daily opportunities for sources to secure valuable media coverage. Sign up and use this resource as much as you can to build credibility and establish media relationships for your site. When I started an e-commerce company with my sister, we utilized HARO and we were quoted in well-known publications such as Glamour, Condé Nast and NBC’s Today Show.
  • PitchBox automates the outreach grunt work to help scale your efforts. It handles all aspects, from the prospecting to the emailing, to tracking and managing the workflow. If you are an industry expert looking to contribute content on external sites, PitchBox can help find these sites through its automated software. For startups, it starts at $95 and is a great resource to generate high-quality relationships.
  • If you want to measure success of your SEO and digital PR efforts, invest in Moz. This SEO software will track your keyword rankings and inform you when a backlink hits the web (such as a HARO pitch that went live on an external site). It also allows you to track competitor keyword rankings, optimize your local listings and enhance your local presence (if you have a storefront location, for instance).

Develop a Game Plan in Your Area

Too often, when it comes to SEO and digital marketing, people just sit behind a computer. Change up the pace and do a public speaking engagement for free. I recently did a speaking engagement for a real estate company in Columbus, my hometown. I was able to grow my Instagram follower count by 20 percent by incorporating an Instagram giveaway during the presentation. I made great local connections by staying afterward and speaking with the audience. If there is a powerful influencer on Instagram in your industry nearby, offer to meet him or her for coffee. You never know the ideas they’ll present or the people you’ll be introduced to.

If you invest in digital PR and utilize the aforementioned services, you will score a hat trick when it comes to your SEO efforts. Just remember, it can take time to put together the right team and execute on the game plan.

4 Tips For Preparing for SEO in 2017 by Jason Parks.  Available from <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/young-entrepreneur-council/4-tips-for-preparing-for-_b_13042722.html> [11/21/2016 10:32 am ET]

3 Tips for Increasing Mobile Commerce Sales

3 Tips for Increasing Mobile Commerce Sales by Taz Lake.  Available from <http://multichannelmerchant.com/ecommerce/3-tips-for-increasing-mobile-commerce-sales-21112016/> [Nov 21, 2016 3:54 PM]

With the continued growth of the handheld device market, mobile commerce continues its rapid rise. Many millennials use their smartphones as their primary internet connection, and mobile internet traffic actually surpassed desktop traffic in 2015. This increase is traffic has also led to a rapid increase in mobile sales. A recent BI Intelligence report states that mobile commerce will represent a $79 billion market in 2016, and will make up 45% of all ecommerce by 2020.

The mobile market is clearly growing by leaps and bounds. With over half of all internet traffic coming from mobile devices, what are some of the tips for maximizing mobile commerce opportunities? As someone who has evaluated thousands of websites, I would like to share the following trends and advice:

Mobile Apps Are Not Always Necessary

Many retailers feel that they always need a mobile app to maximize mobile sales. That simply is not true. Today’s mobile devices and browsers have advanced to the point where they can handle most of the functions of the top mobile applications. For example, with the right equipment, location information can now be captured through a browser.  A mobile app is only needed if the incremental spend is justified by a business case.

The key is to treat your website like a product with mobile as a feature. You should dedicate programming resources to it and update it frequently to continually improve commerce opportunities. It is also very important to review your website periodically for errors and bugs. These would ideally be caught before production, but website owners often focus on adding new functionality to their sites, but never clean them up. Websites can easily get bloated this way.

Size Matters

Mobile connections are typically not as fast as wired desktop connections. Therefore, if a website becomes very large and there is no alternative mobile version, you run the risk of losing mobile traffic. It’s great to have a feature-rich desktop version of the site, but it is important to turn some of these features off on the mobile site.  You don’t want to block or delay customers from the main call to action which is to buy your products.

For example, I recently read an article on how Nordstrom added some advanced 3D virtual reality features to their website. Shoppers could use this technology to create 3D models of dresses and preview them in a virtual environment. This feature was a great from a functional perspective, but it was so complex it slowed the site down to the point where it was actually impacting conversions and had to be taken down.

Navigation Is Key

Navigation is one of the biggest challenges in mobile website design because there are so many different products and so little room to properly display them. Navigation control and design is one of the main reasons many of the largest retailers develop mobile apps.

When you build a website, there are ways to enable and disable features on mobile devices based on what’s called a “user agent”.  This technology can tell what type of device and browser you are using, and then the web application tunes certain site features to make the user experience more appealing.

For example, let’s say your desktop website has a fairly complex “megamenu” – a menu that presents sub-menus when the user rolls over specific words or icons.  This feature is not going to work on a mobile device. If you have this feature, you will need to ensure an alternative mobile navigation gets people to where they need to go while still preserving some level of interactivity.

Also, many retail websites provide cross-selling opportunities on certain product pages. This works well on a desktop browser, but screen real estate is limited on mobile devices. Let people focus on each product and give them the ability to add to cart easily if they choose.  Your customers will appreciate not having to scroll through all of this extra information, as well as the faster, uncluttered mobile experience.

Whether this is their first foray into ecommerce or they are considering a retail website redesign, most small and mid-sized retailers should build their websites with mobile first in mind. Mobile technology is the present and the future of e-commerce. More and more consumers are choosing to do their online shopping away from their desks, and the mobile commerce market will doubtlessly continue its rapid growth. Building a feature-rich, yet lean mobile commerce experience is a wonderful starting point for a desktop website.

3 Tips for Increasing Mobile Commerce Sales by Taz Lake.  Available from <http://multichannelmerchant.com/ecommerce/3-tips-for-increasing-mobile-commerce-sales-21112016/> [Nov 21, 2016 3:54 PM]

3 Mobile Friendly Website Design Tips You Should Avoid

3 Mobile Friendly Website Design Tips You Should Avoid by Zaid Ammari.  Available from <http://www.business2community.com/web-design/3-mobile-friendly-website-design-tips-avoid-01709938> [November 18, 2016]

By now, everyone understand the importance of having a mobile-friendly website. More people are using mobile devices to access to Internet each passing day. As a result, these users can account for anywhere from 20 to 50 percent of a site’s total visitors. With that said, making the transition into these sites is challenging. Business owners are designing with general advice that actually hurts their site’s performance. Here are three common design tips you need to avoid.

1. Converting Desktop Websites into a Mobile-Friendly Version As Is

Too many business owners think that all they have to do is convert their regular desktop site into a mobile-friendly one. While this seems like a logical decision, they are forgetting that this doesn’t translate well. You have to adapt to the devices that are being used and focus on serving to the user’s needs rather than trying to maintain a certain standard.

Mobile-based users spend less time and have a lower attention span than desktop users. The devices they are using often have smaller screens and are being used while they are on the go. So when the users are presented with a content heavy and graphic heavy website, they become overwhelmed and will more likely than not, abandon the website.

You also need to remember that the Internet connection on these devices is far slower than desktop devices. Users understand this intuitively and are looking for a quick solution that loads quickly. You need to design your site to provide what these users want to see and present them with a focused navigation path to help them find what they need. You also need to make the content more concise and focus on conversions rather than entertaining or educating the user.

2. Designing the Mobile Version of Your Site Based on Your Desktop Site’s Analytics

While there is a lot of advice given about using your analytics to adapt your design, not enough people are telling you to dig deeper into the performance on mobile-devices. You’ll quickly learn that how people behave on your desktop will be drastically different from how people behave using these devices.

That’s why making design and structural changes based on the analytics data for your desktop is a bad choice. You need to collect data on mobile-only users and use that exact data to adapt the design and structure. Don’t forget that users are browsing the Internet in a completely different way when using devices. They’re using their thumbs and pointer fingers to browse, sliding their fingers to scroll, and pressing down parts of their screen.

3. Setting Up a Separate Mobile-Dedicated Site

One of the worst advice that marketing firms have made in the past is pushing their clients to set up a mobile-dedicated site that is separate from desktop site. This meaning that both sites will have different URLs. There are numerous downsides of implementing this strategy.

First of all, you may face search engine penalties for duplicate content. If you want to avoid this, you will have to go back to rewrite your archived content or produce two pieces of content every time you want to put up something new for your site.

Second, if you’re planning on getting traffic from the search engines, you’ll have to double your efforts since the search engines will see both sites as two separate entities. You’ll have to build separate links, have separate Google Authorship accounts, and have separate content. This is a lot of work to undertake.

Third, promoting your brand and taking part in any kind of offline advertising for your business site will become a headache. You want to get the brand value out of your advertising, but having two distinct websites will make it confusing for your target audience. The bottom line is that it’s a better idea to use responsive or adaptive web design.

Switching over to a mobile-friendly site is no easy task. Part of creating a site that works for both audiences means avoiding critical mistakes that hurts the user’s browsing experience and making it easier for you to promote your site.

3 Mobile Friendly Website Design Tips You Should Avoid by Zaid Ammari.  Available from <http://www.business2community.com/web-design/3-mobile-friendly-website-design-tips-avoid-01709938> [November 18, 2016]