Google announced as far back as 2014 that it would start giving preferential search ranking to more secure sites (e.g. those with SSL encryption). However, later this month (January 2017), Google will further advance their agenda of making the web a safer place, by starting to actively warn Chrome users of web pages that are “Not Secure” when they interact with a page that requests a password or credit card number.

If any part of your site has a login, sells a product, or frankly, collects data from visitors of any kind, you will benefit from implementing an SSL. Eventually, all pages that are Not Secure will be so labeled.

Soon, your website will look like this without a security layer. This is obviously no bueno for user confidence, and that’s Google’s entire point.

To fix this, Let’s Encrypt!

You’ve probably seen the little green lock primarily on e-commerce sites like Amazon.com or on payment sites like PayPal.com. That coveted little green lock indicates that you are interacting with a site that has an added layer of security, called an SSL (Secure Socket Layer), which verifies the identity of the website and also encrypts your interactions with it. In short, it helps protect your passwords, credit card numbers, and naughty searches from the prying eyes of ne’er-do-wells that may be trying to do you harm.

Sites that add this layer of security are accessed at https:// rather than just http://.

If you’re interested in learning more about how this works, below is a well-done video on the subject:

A website that is not secure is no longer an option for businesses that want to rank well and provide visitors with consumer confidence. 

Below is the TL;DR version of why you should implement SSL on your company website this month:

1. Google will reward you with higher SEO ranking
2. Your visitors will feel more comfortable and confident interacting with your site
3. You may reduce any liability you face by having a less secure site
4. Soon, Chome (and likely other browsers) will actively warn your users that your site is “Not Secure.”

Did we mention that adding this layer of web security for existing clients is a breeze. Or a strong wind. Or sometimes a hurricane. But either way, we take care of it! So, ask us about it today.

Occasionally we see information that is just too important not to share with our friends, clients and contacts.  As business owners we all have to be careful with how we spend money and often the digital methods are scary because many of us don’t completely understand how they work; so we hesitate or resist investing an appropriate or optimal amount.

The featured infographic (a digital informative poster) details which of these methods work the best to provide what we all want more of – customers!

Another article that came out in the WSJ yesterday (4-16-14) spotlights another challenge with digital marketing.  Like many service industries, “big box” companies are created to provide services to the business community.  This article highlights the nightmare experiences many small business owners have endured by being sold these services by these types of companies.  Essentially these companies raise capital and invest in some creative (and sometimes legitimately useful) software to help them scale the services in order to automate many of the steps required.  The problem is their business model focuses largely on sales and very little on customer service.  The “churn” factor is what they focus on rather than treating each client individually and consulting with them effectively (or at all).  We have several clients that have used these services before – some of them have seen results but overall the experiences were dire.

My hope is that you gleam some useful information from these articles to help you make the best decisions with regards to your internet marketing efforts.  80% of local searches on Google result in an action – phone call, website visit, lead form submission, directions, etc.  It all starts here regardless of what kind of product or service you provide.

Find an agency or consultant that makes you feel like your best interests are the focus.  Don’t get caught up in the hype and glitter of these large companies and their slick sales pitches.  You (we) all deserve to be treated like a valued client, not a number.

One doesn’t have to drive far on America’s highways and byways before seeing them – Trucks, cars and vans that wouldn’t typically warrant a second glance, were it not for the eye-catching graphics wrapped around them. However, the costs of design and fabrication can quickly add up, so the question is, are vehicle wraps really worth the money?

The short answer: YES.

Vehicle wraps allow your business to:

• Reach more eyes. The average American drives about 300 miles each 7 days and one vehicle wrap can generate between 30,000 and 70,000 impressions daily.

• Increase brand recognition. Vehicle wraps boost brand recognition 15 times greater than that of conventional advertising methods.

• Save money. To generate the same level of reach a $3,500 vehicle wrap can produce, a company would need to spend $130,000 in traditional advertising dollars. Not to mention, when properly taken care of, vehicle wraps can last you upwards of 5 years.

Your vehicles are already out there on the roads, don’t let your next high-paying client simply drive past you.

*All statistics were taken from studies done by The American Trucking Association (ATA), The Traffic Audit Bureau of Media Measurement and 3M.