Websites

Four Ways To Secure Your WordPress Website

August 29, 2016 By Tyson Downs

Imagine this scenario. You have spent months of your time and a couple thousand dollars on your website. Then, one day you are informed that it isn’t working. You go to the website and confirm that it is down, nothing is displaying. You are stuck, you don’t know where to go. Your website is down and you are losing visitors left and right, and potentially thousands of dollars in sales. What next?

Unfortunately it is an all too common problem. I’ll tell you what to do down at the end of the article.

Let’s look at a few ways you can secure your WordPress website.

1. Usernames & Passwords

You want to make it as difficult as possible for somebody to get into your website. One of the most basic, effective ways to do this is to change your username from the default ‘admin’ to something else. If a hacker already knows the username, their job is halfway done, then all they need to figure out is the password. Of course the more difficult the better, but anything is better than ‘admin’.

For your password I recommend using a password generator. The one that I use is very easy and take me 5 seconds if that to get a new password. I always go with at least 10 characters and include special characters and numbers. Store this password in a secure place that you can easily get access to it.

2. Change Your Login Page

The default login screen for a WordPress website is websitename.com/wp-admin. Hackers know this. They will often go to that site and start working away. However, if you change your login page, you not only thwarted a potential attempt, but now they have to figure out where your login page is.

3. Limit Login Attempts

You would be amazed at how often idiots are trying to get into some random website. They have a lot of stupid, and dishonest reasons for doing so. I recommend limiting the number of attempts that somebody can try to get into your website. Unless they know your password, it’ll take some serious skills, or some good software in order to figure out your username and password at all. I recommend limiting the number of attempts to 3, after that, that IP address is blocked and they can’t access it. You can also set it up so you can an alert via email whenever somebody is locked out. It’s pretty interesting to see how often this happens.

4. Schedule Regular Backups

Surely you would not want to be in the situation I described in the beginning of the article. I’ve had clients there before, their site is completely gone, and they come to me to fix it. That is the risk you take if you are not regularly backing up your website. I use a program called BackWPup. It seems to work well from my experience. There are many other backup programs out there for you to evaluate. You can simply set BackWPup to back up your site once a week, and to keep the last two backups of it to be safe. You can even tell it to backup to Dropbox or Google storage, or just your hosting server, your call.

There are many, many other ways you can secure your WordPress based website, but by deployed these basic steps you can thwart many of the attempts, and should something happen, you’ll have a backup to restore. So many people do not secure their websites that hackers will often go to the next website if they have any trouble getting into your website.

Oh, and in the situation above, if you were hosting your site with me, I would handle everything for you and get your site backup. If you set up hosting on your own through Hostgator, Go Daddy, or somewhere else, you would want to get in touch with them and see if they can restore your site for you. Sometimes they can, sometimes they can’t.

To avoid the loss of your site and potential revenue, I recommend having your hosting & maintenance company implement these changes immediately. If you do it yourself, it may take some time to figure out, but it’ll be well worth it. Alternatively, contact me, and I can take it off your plate for you.

One Common Mistake That Could Be Costing You Customers

August 22, 2016 By Tyson Downs

Are you a small business owner with a website? Okay, grab a smartphone and go to your website. Tell me, what does it look like? Is it all scrunched and small? Even worse, does it have code that that makes the website inoperable?

Or even worse yet, is it flash based and your website doesn’t work at all? It is absolutely ridiculous to lose a potential customer that is looking for your services on their mobile device because your website doesn’t work on mobile devices.

According to Google, two thirds of mobile users will go to a different website if they can’t quickly find what they are looking for. With smartphones and tablets becoming more common each and every day, it’s important that your site is viewable on these devices.

Here are three different ways you can go:

1. Full Blown Mobile Site

This is a site that is designed specifically for a mobile device. Here’s how it works. Some code is placed within the website that detects what type of device the browser is using. If they are using a desktop or laptop, they are given the full version of the site. If they are using a mobile device, then a mobile version of the website is displayed. It’s pretty cool. A nice way to go.

Now this goes even further. There software that can be installed for many websites that will automatically turn your website into a mobile version, HOWEVER it is much more basic than designing a full blown mobile website, but it is free. If you want a nice, custom mobile website, you need to have one designed for you.

It’ll have such features as tap to call, tap for directions, gallery, etc. I don’t think everyone needs a mobile site, but for certain industries they can come in handy. Custom mobile websites are ideal for restaurants, locksmiths, cab companies etc. Basically if you have somebody that searches from a phone at a high percentage of the time, then a mobile website is the way to go.

2. Standard Website

If you have a fairly recent website that isn’t flash based, and doesn’t have a lot of java, then it’ll probably show up just fine on a mobile device.

Just keep in mind that some things will require much more time to do, clicking on links, you’ll have the pinch and zoom, etc. So, if you are fine with that, then go for it. That is what I prefer when I am browsing typically, but it just depends on the website that I am visiting.

3. Responsive Website

This is a website that ‘responds’ to the screen size and adjust accordingly. A responsive site basically takes your website and adjusts everything so it can show up on your screen. Flash doesn’t work small typically you have a really long webpage on your phone and you’ll scroll down and down, there isn’t scrolling to the side so much. Not my favorite method, but it is becoming increasingly popular.

Google recommends webmasters follow the industry best practice of using responsive web design, namely serving the same HTML for all devices and using only CSS media queries to decide the rendering on each device.

If responsive design is not the best option to serve your users, Google supports serving your content using different HTML. The different HTML can be on the same URL (a setup called dynamic serving) or on different URLs, and Googlebot can handle both setups appropriately if you follow our setup recommendations.

So what do you need to do? Think of your visitors. Think of your target demographic. What type of website would be best for them? What gives them the best user experience? Then, test, test, test. You can install Google Analytics on your website and then see how many people come from mobile phones, how long they stay on there, etc. So test, and see what works best.

If you have a flash base website, or want a mobile website, let’s talk. Chances are I can help improve your customer experience, with the ultimate goal of making you more money.

Titan Web Agency specializes in helping healthcare professionals such as dentists, and others doctors, get online and build up their presence, to become authority’s in their field, and market.

Seven Features You NEED To Include On Your Website

August 16, 2016 By Tyson Downs

Let’s face it. You have a website because you want to make more money. You want to be more successful and be found easier online. But having a website in and of itself does not do this. You need to get it in front of eyeballs. In front of targeted customers that are searching for your products or services. Often, the best way to do this is to utilize the skills of a search engine optimization consultant. Hiring the right SEO Consultant can help increase traffic to your site, and increase calls into your business.

Their job becomes much easier when website owners have a properly set up website. It is of course much more than just the aesthetics of the website that matters.

It may happen that taking care of a few small things on your own can help you save a lot of money. Before entrusting the task of optimizing your website with a SEO company, you should check to see if it offers free evaluation of a website as a part of its service. If the company is a reputable one, it should be more than happy to assist you with free analysis of your website.

The following are the elements capable of making the task of a SEO consultant quick and simple. Even if yours is a small business looking for local listing optimization services and adding these elements would change your business forever.

1. A business name and a company logo

These elements can be inserted into any part of a website’s edit field. But, adding them on the upper corner or including it as a graphic banner is highly recommended. This would ensure that the information of your company is the one which gets noticed first on your website.

Take care to ensure that you do this on every single page of your website. Check out the logo I recently created for a dentist in Kennewick, WA.

2. Easily Found Phone number

There are no generalized guidelines available as to how or where to insert phone number on a website. But, if you wish it to be noticed by visitors at a glance, add it on the upper corner of all web pages. This is generally regarded as a local listing optimization strategy.

But, this would do great even if yours is a company targeting a global audience. Visitors based in your area are sure to find your website to be of interest to them.

3. Your Location

The location of your company should be edited in text format near the footer.

You can also add it to the bottom of specific pages as well such as the homepage, and for sure the contact page.

You should put it in text as opposed to an image so it can more easily be read by the search engines.

Bonus points if you put this and other data in Schema.

4. A list of your services

This can be inserted as tag lines or as text. However, make sure that the visitors to your website are not forced to scroll on to hunt for the services and products you offer. Put the services front and center so it is easy for your visitors to see.

Of course you’ll also want to add them to a services pages, which usually is best if you create a service page and add it to the menu bar, and then create drop downs of the different services you offer.

5. Contact details

Include your full contact information at the end of a page as footer. More the ways to contact you, greater the traffic to your website would be. It is also a great way to establish your credibility as a reliable service provider. Also be sure to have a contact page on your site. If you have a captcha, don’t make it one that is impossible to read.

6. Highly optimized title tag

This is the HTML tag containing your main keyword and a bit about your location. The generally recommended length of an HTML tag is sixty-five characters. This helps your website get read by the search engines in a more favorable and timely manner.

7. SEO Optimized H1 tag

This is the heading of your web page which appears as a text heading. It should include keywords matching the content of the page. Do not go for the easier options like giving generalized titles here.

Doing a research on the keywords people in your area generally use and use them as your H1 tags.

If you follow these seven steps while having your website built you will surely be ahead of the competition, improving conversions and website visibility. If you need help with any of this, let’s talk.

Titan Web Agency specializing in dental SEO and healthcare SEO.

4 Essential Ways Social Media Can Help Your Practice

August 13, 2016 By Tyson Downs

One frequent question that I get from business owners is “How can social media help my practice?” That’s a valid question. If you don’t have much experience online, you may wonder how being on Twitter or Facebook can help you and your company. Seriously, does a dentist need to be on Twitter? Does a dentist/plastic surgeon/orthodontist, etc need to be on Facebook? Does a chiropractor need to use Google +? The answer to all those questions is YES. Let me explain….

1. Marketing Diversity

I am a firm believer that you don’t want to rely too heavily on one particular marketing strategy. I’ve seen companies go broke because they put all their eggs in the good ol’ Phone Book SEO Method. They put all their marketing spend in the phonebook. The same goes for somebody that focuses only on PPC ads. What happens when the competition gets fiercer and you are paying double for your ads? You better have more than one marketing method that you have built up so your business doesn’t take a hit.

2. Build Your Reputation

On the internet your reputation is everything. Everybody is reading reviews online before doing business with a company. What better way to earn the trust of your customers and potential customers than engaging with them and building up your reputation. By positive, engaging, witty updates you will be able to slowly build trust of potential customers and strength the relationship you have with your existing clients.

Before doing business with a company, it is common to ‘Google’ or search their name online, to see what is being said about them. If you have bad reviews out there, whether legitimate or not, they can put you in a world of hurt financially. Go ahead and Google my company Titan Web Agency. On the first page do you see all the social networking platforms listed? Pinterest, Facebook, Twitter, Vimeo, YouTube, etc. These social networking sites can often bury bad reviews.

3. Promotions

Back in the day it would be common to have to plan your promotions a year in advance, especially with the phone book. With direct mail you need to do it months in advance. With social networking? A well thought out promotion can be planned over a weekend and up and active on Monday.

You can then split test promotions on Facebook vs. Google + to see which platform performs better. Now, if you have a small amount of followers, you probably will get next to no response to your promotion. That doesn’t mean it doesn’t work though!

What it does mean though, is that you could benefit from reading my post about how a healthcare practice can get started with social media.

4. Direct Patient & Potential Patient Communication

How crazy is it that you can have a direct link to your patients and communicate with them visually within second’s right in their living room? Previously you would have to advertise on TV, and not many small businesses can afford that, now you can do it for free or next to free! Not only that, but customers can contact you directly and have an issue taken care of or potential lead contacted right away.

Even more exciting is 100% absolutely free text messaging directly to your patients. Do you own a dental office and you want to be able to send out specials to your patients? You can do it at no charge and begin implementing within a half an hour. Check it out, here’s what you do:

Step 1: Go to http://www.twitter.com and create an account for your business with the word ‘deal’ or ‘offers’ in the Twitter name. Make it easy to remember. If the business name is White Teeth, maybe your Twitter handle could be WhiteTeethDeals.

Step 2: Advertise the service to your patients. Talk to everybody that comes in. Post it throughout your location on professionally designed collateral.

An example of a call to action on the flier would be:

Text “Follow WhiteTeethDeals” to 40404 to become part of our VIP club and get special offers sent directly to your phone!

Then you, the business owner, would Tweet a special offer from that WhiteTeethDeals Twitter account and everybody that is subscribed would receive that Tweet via text message.

Example: We are having a referral party! Refer one patient and get a Sonicare Tooth Brush. Refer two? Drawing for Xbox!

BONUS: When you get a new subscriber, not only will the person get all future Tweets via text, but they will get the most recent one as well.

Your subscribers don’t even need be on Twitter to get these deals, because it is simply a text message service. How cool is that!

Here is more information on it from Twitter.

If you need help determining the best social media strategy for your practice, contact me, I can put together a plan that will get you on the map, improving your online presence, and bringing value to your business.

No longer is social media just for teens, social media is for every business that wants to grow.

Five Overlooked Ways You Can Increase Your Online Presence

August 9, 2016 By Tyson Downs

Some doctors and other healthcare professionals have a strong online presence.

Did you know that local lobster fishermen in Nova Scotia, Canada, have found new customers in Japan in recent years. All due to a clever online marketing strategy.

If you are a local business owner, part of your online marketing strategy should be to make sure that your business is listed everywhere it should be. Read on to see where you should begin.

1. Contact Page, Don’t Overlook it!

Creating a “contact us” page on your website helps local customers find you. You can add a professional photo of your business and place it squarely on your “contact us” page. Link to Google maps. A comprehensive “contact us” page is a way to show your community exactly where you are and how to find you. Code it with schema.

2. Be Found Easier

The easiest thing that you can do to help members of your community find you is to list your complete address on every page of your site. This is part of local listing optimization and will help ensure that people who search for a business in your category is presented with your name. Once again, use Schema markup to increase visibility.

3. Don’t Forget Bing Local

Sure, Google is the big kid on the block when it comes to search engines. But a comprehensive online marketing strategy means taking advantage of tools such as Bing Local which exist to help local businesses be found by those looking for them.

4. Yellow Pages Online Benefit Doctors and Similar

The days of thumbing through the yellow pages which have been bound in a massive volume have left us. But they are still an active, much-used tool online. Again, you want potential customers to find you no matter where they look.

5. MapQuest

MapQuest is not just for looking up locations any more. They list profiles of local businesses on their site. And, according to the good folks at SEOmoz, MapQuest received over 40 million visitors in May of 2011. You certainly want to be a presence on a site that is of such a high profile.

This article has pointed out some basic things that you can do to improve your online marketing strategy. You need to keep abreast of what sites are important for local searches and ensure that you have a professional presence on all of the most high-profile sites.

A closing word. You should make sure that all of the online information about your business is accurate. If you change your operating hours, be sure to make that change everywhere. Consistency is the key to success.

A 5 Step Guide To Getting Your Business Online As a Doctor

August 1, 2016 By Tyson Downs

Whether in a large market or a small town, every doctor (i.e. dentist/healthcare professional) needs a website to stay competitive in today’s market. Without a good website your business is just watching money evaporate, as there is no better way to market to customers than using the Internet. If your office does not have a website it is time to get one. Here are some tips for how to get your business online and how to keep the website viable once it is running.

1. Build a Website

A company without a website is not taking advantage of the most powerful marketing tool ever created. It is a good idea to speak with a professional web design company.
These experts can help transform your ideas into a useful website.

There are many things to focus on when building a website. SEO, also known as search engine optimization, is key if you want to get your website to the top of search engines like Google. Be sure to discuss different aspects of SEO with your web designer or preferably your SEO company.

2. Keep it Current

Once the website is up and running it is vital to keep all of the information current and up to date. Customers will usually not respond positively to a website that looks like it hasn’t been well maintained.

Out of date information could even be a sign that the business has failed, so be sure make regular updates to the website and keep all information current.

3. Be Social

It is also important to use the website as a way to interact with customers. The best way to do this is by adding customer service options that allow customers to ask questions or make complaints.

You should have a FAQ section, as well as a way for customers to send emails with any questions or concerns. Be sure to respond quickly to these complaints, as customers will have a more positive experience if they feel they are being heard. This is an easy way to create customer loyalty.

4. Social Proof

Online reviews are the new word of mouth. Fact is that most people trust online reviews as much as recommendations from a friend or family member.

For that reason it’s important that you have a review strategy in place and are actively working on getting as many reviews as possible. Spread that reputation that you have across the internet so as many potential patients as possible can find them. Never stop building up your review reach.

5. Blogging

Finally, you can promote your site by writing blog posts with relevant information. Take a leadership role in your field by writing about important topics. This will show customers that you are on top of the latest information in your field.

For some simple ideas of blog posts, think of what your patients are asking you when they are in your office. Are they asking you about the best teeth whitening methods? Write about that. Are they asking you about how they can prevent their gums from bleeding? Write about that.

Need more ideas for promoting your practice? You’re in luck. Check out this recent article I wrote about marketing your business.