What is an SSL Certificate?
Secure Socket Layers, known as SSL, are a security protocol for websites. This type of security allows for digital communications between two points to be encrypted so it’s more difficult for an unwanted third party to intercept. An SSL Certificate is the method of proof a website uses to tell visitors that sensitive information is being protected when transmitted online using this site. If your website uses SSL, your visitors will see a little... [Read More...]
What is a QR code? How & why to use it
This is a guest post by Dan Trainor III, President of W&C Printing Company. If you haven’t yet heard any buzz about QR codes, you probably will soon. A QR code, which stands for “Quick Response”, is a small square bar code that can be scanned with a cell phone’s camera. Simply point your camera at the barcode and wait for the barcode to point you where it’s linked to – a website, block of text, or image. Read more about... [Read More...]
Privacy changes at Facebook: How to opt out of the “Instant Personalization Pilot Program”
In April, Facebook introduced the Open Graph API, which is a personalization tool that shares user data in exchange for personalization on the sites they visit, including CNN, Pandora and Microsoft. Facebook also updated their privacy policy at the same time, with changes that affect both the information Facebook will share, and who they’ll share it with. Here’s a summary of the privacy policy changes (Source: EFF) When you connect... [Read More...]
How to spot an email scam
You just got a get a great offer by email! Or maybe it was an account notification….or was it a kind stranger offering to help market your website or give you a free credit report? There are a lot of emails going around that are trying to trick you into giving up personal information, buying services you don’t need, or worse, using your credit card or other payment you would provide for fraudulent purposes. Samples of email scams would... [Read More...]
I don’t use email marketing. Why bother?
Email Marketing is a great way to lower your marketing expenses--which translates to more profit for your business. A lot of people seem to share this sentiment. Are you one of them? If you haven’t started using email marketing to reach your customers, you’re missing out on a critical piece of marketing that can benefit your business immensely. Email marketing is an affordable, effective method for reaching your customers and increasing... [Read More...]
When (and when not) to double space
When you’re writing content for the web, do you typically double space after each sentence? For many people, it’s an ingrained habit to punch the space bar twice after a period. That’s how we’ve done it since the typewriter was invented, right? Use of the double space after a period is a typing convention left over from the days of the typewriter; however, its original purpose no longer applies on the web. Typewriters used... [Read More...]
Do I need a mobile-optimized website?
If you read our last post, you know what a mobile-optimized website is and why your business might want one. Before you make the investment, evaluate your website and your visitors. If you use Google Analytics, it’s easy to track how many users are visiting from mobile devices: Log in to your Google Analytics account Click on Visitors Select Mobile > Mobile Devices Once you have access to your analytics, evaluate the data and consider... [Read More...]
How to write web-friendly and SEO-friendly file names
When you’re uploading a file to the internet (like an image ending in .jpg, .png or .gif, a document ending in .pdf or .txt, or a web page ending in .html, .php, .aspx etc.), it’s important to name the file correctly so that your web browser will recognize it and know what to do with it. If a file is named incorrectly, you might get an error that prevents you from uploading the file, or worse, your user might get an error later when they’re... [Read More...]
How does email work? A simple (illustrated) explanation
If you’re like most people who work in an office or use a computer regularly, you send and receive dozens of emails each day. When you click Send, how does it get to the right place? Email was born in 1971 when a computer engineer began using the @ symbol to designate which computer a message should go to. At its core, an email is simply a text message from one user to another. Advancing technology has added extra features along the way, of... [Read More...]
What’s the difference between a Facebook Fan Page and a Facebook Profile?
Have you thought about developing a presence for your business on Facebook? If your customer base is already using Facebook and you have a strategy before you get started, it can be a great way to interact, spread awareness of your company and provide another avenue for communicating events, products and promotions. If you’ve never used Facebook before, here’s a comparison to help you understand the difference between a Facebook Fan Page... [Read More...]
