by Nick Throlson | Aug 1, 2017 | SEO, Social Media, WordPress
Job hunting is stressful enough. Being rejected is completely disheartening, and being repeatedly rejected can even make you feel like you aren?t worth it. Not only are there simple things that you can fix that?ll hopefully make you more appealing to potential employers, but there are also topics that you should learn and familiarize yourself that will wow them. Being hired is about selling yourself. Knowing these three topics can give you an edge over your competition because it shows that you know the basics of how the world today works.
Social Media
Social media is a topic that is both very easy to learn, and something that becomes increasingly complicated. You can know how to use social media, but the fact is, most people only know how to use it for their personal life. It is how to use it for businesses that can make you instantly more hireable. You don?t have to be an expert, but you learn the best practices.
Know how to increase engagement, how advertising on the social mediums works, and, most importantly, know its limitations. A great way to both practice social media marketing and have an example to show your employers is to start your own blog that you market. Think of it as your guinea pig where you can use trial and error to find the best strategies that work for you.
SEO
Search engine optimization is a digital marketing technique many people have heard about, but at the same time, know very little about when it comes to applying it to their business. Being knowledgeable in SEO strategies that increase page ranking is an incredible selling point for future employers. You can know everything there is about SEO, however, simply learning the basics and proving your knowledge can be enough. Once you are hired, speak to your company about improving their SEO ? lead them to companies such as Click Intelligence, who will help you with your apply SEO and link building into your business?s marketing strategy.
SEO increases page ranking. It means that people can find you when they use a search engine. The guidelines constantly change, so you need to make sure that stay on top of today?s best practices or hire a company to do it for you.
WordPress
WordPress is the most popular CMS with over 28.4% of websites using it. It is a versatile tool that most websites are built from, so knowing how to use WordPress is a critical skill to learn. If you want to be even more hireable, know how to use the other top content management systems like Blogger too. Be flexible. Be knowledgeable. Be hired. Knowing the basics of HTML and the other building blocks of the Internet like CSS is a bonus.
Whether you complete a course and get a diploma in them, or simply read up on the topics, they are great to know. Each one of these topics is crucial to any company, the second it goes online. Knowing the stakes and how the online portion of the business works can make you a more effective employee because it means that you can optimize your work for online from the get-go. It shows that you know more about the business than your competition. It will make you more hireable.
by Nick Throlson | Jul 10, 2017 | WordPress
If you are new to WordPress and you have just finished designing your site, you will no doubt be very proud of your hard work. However, before you can get your site published, there are a few things you will need to consider such as security. Although WordPress regularly update their site to include the latest security fixes, there are additional things you can do to improve your pages security. Here are a few ideas that will help make your site secure. Admin ProfileIt is so easy to forget to change your admin profile. However, it is important that you do change it as soon as possible. Hackers use brute force attacks to get past the admin accounts; then they can access all your data. By creating a new user and deleting the Admin profile, you will make such an attack less likely. PasswordsPasswords are another area that can be easily taken for granted. Your password has to be unique so that attacks can be nullified. Avoid using your name or your child's name as there is a chance they can be easily guessed. To be secure, you can try a password generator such as 1Password or LastPass. They will use numbers, characters and symbols to generate a password of any length. You will then have a more secure site with a difficult password for hackers to guess. Two-Factor AuthenticationTwo-factor authentication might sound a little extreme, but, if you want to have a secure site, it is the best option. It is especially true if you will have customers personal information stored on the site. The type of authentication we are talking about is already used by many companies including PayPal and Google so that it will be familiar to you. There are plugins that can help you set it up such as Rublon.PrivilegesIf you are the only one that updates or posts on your WordPress site, then you will have admin privileges. However, if there are others that regularly go to the site, they do not need to have the same privileges as you. If they are writing posts, then you can restrict the access they have to the site. The same applies to anyone updating or maintaining your site for you. Grant them the access needed, but remove it once they have finished the work. It doesn?t take long, and it will save any potential problems in the future. The last thing you need is your data to be lost or corrupted, if this were to happen, you would need to rely on back-ups or other security to help you resolve it. You can use a data retrieval company such as Secure Data Recovery to retrieve your data for you. It can be an invaluable service, especially if there was sensitive information involved. With these suggestions in place, you can be more confident that your data will remain safe, even if you have others using the site as well.
by Nick Throlson | Feb 14, 2017 | Business, WordPress
Do you need to create a website for your small business? In this article, you'll learn why WordPress?is used to create?27% of content?on the Internet.WordPress is the industry leader and is likely?the best tool for your website.This article details?the 10 major reasons people love using WordPress to design their own website for blogging, e-commerce or?for other content management system (CMS) purposes quality backlinks service1. Affordability
One reason why WordPress attracts so many users is its affordability.Its features are inexpensive, and many services are completely free. WordPress has open source content, meaning that the source code?is freely available to use or modify according to your business needs.2. Visibility
Regardless of how affordable your website is, if it doesn't pop up on the Google results page, you're out of luck.It simply will not generate the traffic and revenue you want.Luckily, WordPress has in-built search engine optimization (SEO) functionalities. This means that people are more likely to find your website when they need it.Plugins are another reason why WordPress sites rise to the top of the list. They enhance SEO to attract?the customer you want with every search.3. Ease of Use
WordPress is highly user-friendly and accessible.Even if you have no experience in website development, you can find forums about everything from how to install WordPress to how to troubleshoot any problems you may encounter.The best part is, you don't need to know HTML or any other programming languages to get started. You just need a little time and a general notion of what you want your site to look and feel like.It's also easy to add multimedia elements to your webpage, including:
If you want to customize the template of your choice, you can change anything from the color scheme to the layout of text and images.If you know a lot about programming, you can also edit the code manually.Or?if you want to learn to program, using WordPress is an excellent way to get started. Since it is an open source product, you can scour the code in your free time. See it as an opportunity to learn without paying for a textbook.4. Support
Another?reason why WordPress is such a good choice for building a website is its community of millions of users and developers.When website technologies are first emerging or have a limited number of customers, technical support can be lacking. There may not be a lot of experts to ask, and there may not be a lot of other people asking the same questions.Thankfully, if you have a question about a certain feature of WordPress, you can almost guarantee that someone has already answered it. WordPress forums are comprehensive?and don't cost you a thing.Since WordPress is a hub for developers to create new features or improve existing ones. The competition benefits users by providing a wider selection?of options.If you're not up to building your website from scratch, you can easily find an expert who can do it for you.Since WordPress is open source, web developers can easily modify WordPress features to suit your needs. They can design a page tailored to your business that your customers will love.5. Blogging
If you look back to why WordPress was created, it started as a blogging platform?in 2003 and has since then grown into a multi-purpose website service.You can easily create a blog for your company using WordPress. In accord with its original purpose, certain blogging features have been fully integrated into WordPress from the?beginning.6. RSS
One such feature explains why WordPress has become so popular: their Really Simple Syndication (RSS) service.RSS sends out messages to customers who sign up. These messages let your customers know when you add new posts or products to your site.Instead of having to bookmark your website and check periodically for new products or content, RSS notifies your customers of updates right away. This fosters customer loyalty and keeps your brand fresh in their minds.7. Comments
WordPress also allows your customers to leave comments on your pages.This greatly benefits both you and your customers.Their comments on blog posts also provide you with valuable feedback on what they like and don't like.?Their feedback also offers clues into how you can improve your product or service.Plus, their comments can?give you ideas on topics for future blog posts. Posting?content they find useful and important will build trust in your brand.Your customers also feel appreciated when you respond to their questions and comments online. Comments are just another reason why WordPress excels in the industry.8. Design
Want to know another reason why WordPress has gained so much favor?in its users' eyes?Take a look at the variety of beautiful themes, and you'll see why.WordPress offers thousands of unique website templates to choose from. Clean layouts, engaging?photography and carefully overlaid text?will ensure a professional and enjoyable customer experience.Do you need an elegant and flirty motif?for your prom dress boutique? Or do you need a classic, simple design for selling medical supplies?Create a lasting impression in seconds with the click of a button and let their expertise do the work.9. Security
If you're considering using?WordPress to create a website for your small business, you may be asking questions about security:- How can I protect?my website from cyberattacks?
- How can I keep my customers safe?
These questions are particularly important for businesses that engage in e-commerce.You can rest assured knowing that CNN, UPS and Samsung Camera all trust WordPress for their blogging websites.In addition, many successful clothing brands,?including VanHeusen and IZOD, trust?WordPress for their e-commerce needs.Additionally,?WordPress has millions of users. Its popularity ensures that updates of WordPress, its themes and its plugins, are constantly being developed.So if there's a bug in the code, chances are that someone has already noticed it and created a fix. It's up to the user to stay up-to-date by implementing the updates regularly.WordPress also offers numerous plugins that can safeguard your webpage. You'll find multiple plugins that prevent common, brute-force attacks.Some plugins?can identify suspicious activity on your site and notify you immediately. Other plugins can?bar unauthorized use of your site?based on the?user's IP address.The security of your website also depends on your password. Choosing long, complex passwords helps safeguard your site.Hefty strings of digits, symbols, and letters form the basis of a strong password.All of your registered users also need to create passwords that are difficult to guess.10. Constantly Evolving
In this age of information, content on the Internet seems to change every day.Technology is continually improving, and the possibilities for change?are almost limitless.That is the?last reason why WordPress is such a great tool. Just like our society, WordPress is constantly evolving. Every day someone adds new and innovative content to make?it better.Just as one great idea can spark another, so one person's creativity sparks another. We will probably look back 5 years from now and marvel at how much has changed.Why WordPress?
WordPress is the content management system (CMS) industry leader for a reason.It is affordable, easy to use and secure. It can increase your SEO visibility, provides access to great customer support and is easy on the eyes.Its blogging capabilities, such as RSS and leaving comments make it ideal for most users.Still, creating a website is a big project, and not everyone has the time or motivation to do it themselves.If you would like professional assistance with your website from a trusted expert in WordPress, contact Nick Throlson today for a quote.
by Nick Throlson | Jan 19, 2017 | Business, Web Design, WordPress
Beautiful images. Bold color schemes. A sleek design.These are all important elements of a great website design. After all, they are the first things a new visitor notices and judge you by. Your website acts as a virtual front door to your business. If people don?t like what they see inside, they hit the back button and leave without converting. But, here?s the deal: although the design is one of the most important factors in deciding the credibility of a company, functionality plays a more important role. Think about it that way: would you spend time on a site that looks good but works poorly? Probably not.Let?s take a look at all the important elements that, together with the design, make your website a force of nature.
The number one trick to follow is to build your website so as to provide comfort to your customers. You want everything to be as easy and flowing as possible. That said, if any design feature interferes with your site?s functionality, then you should disable it. Try to identify what would provide users with a seamless onsite experience and implement those instead.Last but not least, make it easy for potential prospects to contact you. Include a search bar, preferably on the top of your blog. Fast, easy access to desired information is essential.- Responsive Website Design
One the same note, you want to make your website responsive for mobile use. A wide majority of the time spent online is on mobile devices. You want your web design to be easily translatable into various screen sizes. To make sure your website runs smoothly via smartphones and tablets, test it with Google?s Mobile-Friendly Test. - Make It Relevant and Specific
While you do want to have enough content and features to cover up a wide spectrum, relevance is still important. In other words, you need to cut the fluff and stick to what matters to your audience. Sure, everyone might be talking about the latest trend in tech, but that doesn?t mean you should jump on the bandwagon if the topic doesn?t fit your business profile.
This might sound obvious, but your website?s design and functionality must fit your customer?s needs like a glove. Know your target audience well enough to translate their needs into your web design. Think about what they might want when they land on your page and try to put that information in front of them. Make navigation simple and intuitive and don?t make them think too much about how to find their ways around your site.If you don?t know where to start from, try asking yourself this: Why would anyone want to visit my website?Do a thorough research ? there are plenty valuable resources out there on what user-centric design is and how to apply it.
Last but so not least, don?t forget that a well-designed website can help with your SEO efforts. Google prefers websites that have a clean structure with friendly navigation, solid backlinks, and descriptive image file names. ?Building a good website that looks great and works properly is no easy task. By paying attention to these elements, you can rest assured that your website won?t be just another pretty face on the internet.
by Nick Throlson | Dec 14, 2016 | Business, SEO, WordPress
Have you noticed that most of your competitors seem to have blogs on their websites and are wondering whether you should follow suit? Research has shown that adding a blog to your website can increase the traffic that you?re getting by more than 50 percent - that?s a huge increase! There?s no doubt about it, when used effectively blogging can be a great way to boost your website?s traffic. Of course, the thing that a lot of business owners fail to understand is that it?s not just a case of writing any old post and it being effective. Oh no, there?s a lot more to making your site?s traffic soar than that. Want to know what it takes to use a blog to increase your website?s traffic and search engine ranking - then keep reading! Quality content is crucialIf you want your blog to boost your website?s traffic and improve its search engine ranking, it?s crucial that you only share quality content. Blog posts should be well thought out and researched, and should always focus on something that links to your business. So for instance, say you run a wedding cake business, your blog posts should link to weddings and wedding cakes. They could be tips posts, how-tos, or event industry specific posts - it all depends on who your target audience is. If the content that you provide isn?t of a high quality, then having a blog is pointless because no one will read the pieces that you?re posting, and so, your site?s traffic won?t increase and neither will its search engine ranking. It?s vital that you understand how to use SEO To give your website the best chance of increasing the amount of traffic that it?s getting, you need to boost where it ranks in search engines like Google. One of the best ways to do this is with the use of SEO - Search Engine Optimization. Most business owners have heard the term SEO before but don?t totally understand how SEO works, as such. When it comes to using SEO effectively, it?s important to understand that if you don?t use keywords in the right way, it can have a negative impact, as the Google Penguin Infographic shows. However, if you learn how to use keywords and other SEO tactics properly, you can significantly improve your site?s search engine rank, as well as the amount of traffic that it?s getting. Understand the best ways to promote it using social media marketing In order to increase the amount of traffic that your website is getting, it?s important to know how to promote your blog content effectively. One of the best methods of doing so is with the use of social media marketing - aka sharing your posts on Twitter, Facebook, and other social media sites. The key to success with this is the use of relevant hashtags. There you have it, a guide to using a business blog to make your site?s traffic soar and your search rank improve. Hopefully, everything that you need to know to do this has been covered above!
by Nick Throlson | Aug 30, 2016 | Guest Post, WordPress
When starting your new online venture, getting your website perfected is one of the most crucial items on the agenda. It?s a marketing tool, a point of contact, and a point of sale. Quite frankly, mistakes here will cause huge problems for the entire business operation.For inexperienced web designers (and even experienced ones) WordPress is a very popular choice. There is a lot of room for flexibility, but the fact that all themes follow certain guidelines ensures that navigation is easy for customers. And that familiarity can work wonders for your chances of prolonged visits and additional sales.Nevertheless, you still need to work for success on WordPress. Here?s how your site can succeed.Produce ContentFirst and foremost, your WordPress site needs to look and feel great. As far as the design aspects are concerned, choosing the right theme is one of the most important decisions you?ll make. Using WordPress means that you can change at a later date without losing everything. Nonetheless, this is the foundation of everything you?ll do.Of course, it helps if your logos and other branding elements are looking great. However, those first impressions aren?t the only crucial factor. Visitors need a reason to keep visiting, and blogs are the perfect outlet. With a regular stream of articles that interest and excite your audience, you should see greater loyalty.Besides, you can use those posts to promote products too.Gain TrafficGain
ing loyalty from your visitors is one thing. Then again, you also need to concentrate on increasing the audience reach too. After all, there are millions of websites that the users could visit. It?s imperative that you give them the nudge needed to ensure they find yours.Your blog posts can be a great tool, especially if they go viral. However, advertising through social media and other websites can be crucial too. With PPC management, you can ensure that adverts reach the intended audience. In turn, this can make your marketing budget work far harder. This can only be good news for your profits.WordPress is already optimized for mobile, so you can target both audiences effectively too.Encourage InteractionAcquiring visitors is only the start, though. The real challenge is converting them to customers. To do this, it?s imperative that you gain their trust. Encouraging greater interaction is a great way to do it.Social media is a great platform for interacting with customers. You can even conduct polls to gain their opinions on products or other important issues. Meanwhile, installing a contact form on your WordPress site can have a huge impact too. Let?s face it; nobody is going to buy from someone that they won?t be able to get hold of should a problem surface.Lastly, the e-commerce elements need to be perfect. Using a system that accepts multiple payments and will keep data safe is essential. After all, online attacks are a more common fear than ever. As long as you focus on these factors, though, your WordPress site will give your business the perfect platform for success. What more could you ask for?
