Category: Websites

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Be Seen, Heard and Found

All marketing for your business depends on you being SEEN, HEARD and FOUND, so let’s talk about that.

Being SEEN – this is the easy one! Your company name is seen on…

  • Print – brochures, business cards, postcards
  • Wearables – put your logo on your shirts, hats, jackets
  • Signs – on your building, decals, banners
  • Mail – direct mail pieces you send out
  • Vehicle Lettering – or magnetic signs on your vehicle
  • In Person – when you attend a networking event (especially if your name is on your shirt!)

Being HEARD – a little more difficult. You have to make this one happen.

  • Webinar – host or teach a webinar
  • Sponsor an Event – you are usually given a few minutes to talk about your company
  • Video – create a video and post it on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube
  • Word of Mouth – when someone refers your business – this is the best way to be heard!

Being FOUND – a little more work, but the most important one!

  • Website – EVERY business needs a web presence – there is no exception. Even if it is only a one page website. Please make sure it looks professional. This is the first place someone will go to check on your business.
  • Social Media – you should have at least one social media account. Which one is best for you depends on the type of business you have and who your customer is. Click here for a chart showing the differences and page 2 has the links for each.
  • Local Search – It doesn’t do any good to have a website if no one can find it! Make sure you are listed on all of the major search engines (at least the top ten – see the list below). Even more importantly, make sure your listings are up to date, correct and that your message is consistent.
  • While we can help you with everything else we have listed, for Local Search there are companies that provide this service and do a great job at it – you should choose a company that is in your area (local). Our company uses Mimi Vanderhaven and we have been very happy with the service they provide.

List of top 10 search engines:

Make sure your business is seen, heard and found

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SEO vs PPC – Which is better for your business?

SEO

Organic Listings – Local Search – Helps to build your brand

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) gets your page to show up higher in search results by making it more attractive to search engines.

According to Wickipedia: “Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of increasing the quality and quantity of website traffic by increasing the visibility of a website or a web page to users of a web search engine.”

This means when a customer enters their search criteria into Google (or any other search engine), the search engine crawls the internet for content and key words that match the search criteria. One of the things you can do to help the search engines find your site is to make sure your website is listed in as many on-line directories as possible and the the listings are accurate an consistent.

PPC

Pay-per-click (PPC) or Paid Ads – Digital Marketing

According to Wickipedia: “ is an internet advertising model used to drive traffic to websites, in which an advertiser pays a publisher (typically a search engine, website owner, or a network of websites) when the ad is clicked.”

This means PPC is a type of internet marketing where advertisers pay a fee each time their ad is clicked. So they are buying vists to their site instead of getting the visitors organically through SEO. You bid for blacement in the search engine’s sponsored links so when someone searches for a keyword related to your somethng on your website you have one of the top spots in the results. Ther is a fee for each click.

So, WHICH IS RIGHT FOR YOU?

SEO

• Local customer base
• Relults take longer because it is trial and error to find the best keywords
• You are looking for any type of traffic to your site, not just orders
• You have a specific monthly budget, typically SEO is a fixed amount.

PPC

• PPC can target multiple areas so if your customer base covers a larger area or several areas, this is a good choice.
• Immediate results – you will see result in the first month
• You are looking for a specific type of traffic ex. orders, PPC lets you adjust key words to target customers who are ready to purchase.
• With PPC, the more you are willing to spend, the higher your return. It has a measurable ROI because it tracks every click and call you receive from the ad.
• Your customer base covers a larger area – PPC can target multiple areas

The ideal solution is to do a mix of both.
Showing up higher organically with SEO can make your PPC lower. Using both can also increase your traffic because the more you show up, the better your chance of being clicked on.

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What is an SSL Certificate?

Why is my website showing as an UNSECURED SITE?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. According to GoDaddy, “an SSL Certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to the server using SSL technology. Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an undecipherable format that can only be returned to a readable format with the proper decryption key.”

So, that means the SSL creates a secure link between a website and the visitors browser ensuring that the data being passed between the two remains private and secure. When you browse or interact with a website, your information passes through many computers. The SSL provides encryption which makes it unreadable to everyone except the server you are sending the information to, preventing others from stealing private information. A website that takes credit cards must have an SSL Certificate to be PCI Compliant (complying with Payment Card Industry).

In addition to encryption, an SSL also provides authentication. This ensures that you are sending your information to the correct company – not someone pretending to be that company.

All websites should have an SSL Certificate. It adds credibility to your website and lets visitors know that your business is legitimate and your site is safe.

How do I know if a site has an SSL Certificate?

When you see the lock in the search bar, that means that website has an SSL certificate. The web address also changes to https:// to show others that this is a secure site. There is also a Verified & Secure logo that may be on the website as another indicator of an SSL Certificate. If you do not have an SSL certificate you may notice that the menu bar will show NOT SECURE in red letters as a warning to visitors.

How do I get an SSL Certificate?

Go to the company that hosts your website, they should be able to provide you with an SSL Certificate. There are different levels of SSL’s to choose from and there is a yearly fee. Once you have the SSL it has to be installed onto your site and verified every year.

If your website is through Handouts, contact us and we will make sure your site is Secure!