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Is Your Email Secure? | Prescott, AZ

Believe it or not, internet scams, viruses and hacking can impact your computer – and life – via email. These online threats are more than just annoying pop-up ads, people can use these email scams tap into your personal information.

So, how secure is your email server?

Here are some things we have noticed that contribute to a less-than-secure email server:

It uses SMTP rather than encrypted messaging
- Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) can be accessed by outsiders because it inherently lacks security features
Your mailbox consistently receives spam
- Your email may be linked to a cybercriminal if you are bombarded with potentially malicious emails. Clicking unknown links can put malware on your system

Email communications are tied into the fabric of our lives and businesses. It’s important to understand your security settings, application allowances and the access your email has to your computer. While it may not make an email server “safe”, at least you know what your settings were and can improve upon them if needed.

Jelly Websites utilizes and trusts Microsoft Office 360 for us and our clients. We recommend Office 360 because it is compatible with most operating systems (including MAC), provides premier security, is reliable, encrypted and HIPPA compliant. This means that Office 360 is there for you and your business, no matter what you need to keep secure.

When you create or transition to a Microsoft Office 360 account for your business, it can be quite the task. Trying to set up a well-integrated business profile with multiple domains and employee accounts can get messy quick. Our team is prepared to help! We will work with you to understand the domains and email accounts you need to run your business, set you up with Office 360 and pass along the information so you manage it from there.

Take the stress and insecurity out of your business communications with Microsoft Office 360 and let the team dedicated to helping small businesses grow, do the work for you.

Call Jelly Websites at 951.371.9327 or visit online at www.jellywebsites.com today!

Is Your Website ADA Compliant? | Prescott, AZ

The American Disabilities Act (ADA) was implemented in 1990 to ensure that individuals with disabilities enjoy equal opportunities just as anyone else would. Thanks in part to this act, business and transit that serve the public feature wheelchair accessible accommodations. Provisions are now in place for websites and mobile applications to be ADA compliant. What this means, your website can, and arguably should, be accessible to individuals with disabilities that affect their hearing, vision, or physical abilities.

The ADA’s official standard for websites has been drawn out in Title III. It states “places of public accommodation” are required by law to remove “access barriers” that would inhibit persons with disabilities from accessing a business’ online goods or services.

Here are five things to consider if your website is not yet ADA compliant

Increases your target audience reach
Compliance improves SEO efforts
ADA affiliation may help your reputation
Usability measures improves website
Avoid non-compliance penalties

To learn more about ADA compliance, and what that may mean for your business, contact Jelly Websites at 951.371.9327 or visit online at www.jellywebsites.com today!

Why Can’t I Keep my Website Visitor’s Attention? | Prescott, AZ

Believe it or not, getting views on your website is only the first half of the battle. Retaining their attention and having a site that is user-experience (UX) oriented, is the other. If you have no idea what this all means, that’s okay! We are going to break down these terms, and how to organically retain visitor attention.

If you are unsure of what user activity on your website looks like, ask your web designer to evaluate your analytics. This information may help you make decisions that will contribute to an improved overall user experience!

When someone searches for keywords in a search engine (like Google), it populates options. When they your website, that is a “view”, and you can access statistics on these views. How long your potential client or customer remains on your website provides insight as to how effective it is.

For example, if 70% of viewers click out of your site within the first 10 seconds, something clearly is driving them away. If 70% of viewers remain on your website for a few minutes, they are likely busy engaging with your content.

User experience is how well a website format and features allow visitors to attain the information they are seeking. Generally, a well-designed website’s user experience is seamless; its clean and users have no issues navigating content.

A website that is showing less favorable statistics may need the following areas of improvement:

First Impression. Did you know that as humans, we judge something within the first 8 seconds of seeing it for the first time? Have a friend visit your website and ask them to share first impressions. Generally, a homepage should be clean, inviting and provide relevant information about your enterprise.

Unnecessary Navigation. It’s important to evaluate how different facets of your enterprise are accessed on your website. Namely, navigation. Do you have a single-page website that streamlines information as you scroll, or do you have a multi-page, user-experience oriented design? If you notice your navigation is difficult or unnecessarily cluttered, it may be driving potential consumers away.

Pop-Ups. A well thought out pop-up information square can add flare to any website, but it can also cause visitors to feel overwhelmed if left unchecked. When well placed, a pop-up that makes sense can add value to user experience. When pop-ups generate on every page however, its an off-putting experience for curious visitors to your website. Discuss with your designer if a pop-up may be an appropriate addition to your website.

Confusing Content. Font, text color and background all affect how well visitors can understand your enterprise and gain information. When a website is difficult to read or features bright colors, it tends to distract and drive people away from your services.

To learn more about website design, management, and engagement, contact Jelly Websites at 951.371.9327 or visit online at www.jellywebsites.com today.

What You Must Do To Drive Website Traffic | Prescott, AZ

Website “traffic” refers to how many people are visiting your site. When you launch a website for your business, it takes time for it to populate online and generate views. If your new or existing website isn’t receiving the traffic you want, it may not quite be your fault. There are several ways to drive traffic to your business, it’s just a matter of knowing the tricks!

Blogging: Starting and maintaining a blog for your website is a great way to keep your site relevant online. A monthly blog allows you to keep your visitors updated on your business and add keywords to your site without cluttering it. It also makes returning to your website appealing, with fans tuning in for interesting tidbits every week.

Search Engine Optimization. A search engine, like Google, is how people find out what they want to know online. Optimizing your website to position itself higher on the results page of major search engines is paramount for your website. What keywords will you choose?

Social Media. Whether you realize it or not, your business can have a social media presence tailored to your niche. While the way to market your business can tap into multiple media streams, it likely you won’t use them all. Utilizing social media is an easy and free way to promote your enterprise.

Keep it Clean. Having a simple and easy-to-navigate website is proven to drive and retain visitors. Cluttered, overwhelming sites will distract visitors from your goals and ultimately reduce visitation to your site.

How traceable your website is online makes a big difference in how it works to promote your brand. These starting points will help get your website out there and building your business!

To learn more about website traffic, management and blogging to improve your website’s accessibility, contact Jelly Websites at 951.371.9327 or visit online at www.jellywebsites.com today.

Pros and Cons of Building Your Own Website | Prescott, AZ

Creating a compelling website for your business matters. In our globalized world, you want everyone to connect with your brand and purchase what you have on offer.

There are several ways to create the website of your dreams; here are some things to consider.

The Pros:

Save Money. Taking the time to ideate your own website design, and even get a service to create it will be cost effective. Especially if your business is a start-up, then getting the basics of what you want out of your site is going to be a cost saver.

Accomplishment. There is a valid sense of accomplishment that comes with creating your own website design to promote your business!

New Skills. Since there are so many ways to put together a website, there are certainly some things to learn. You will walk away with an understanding of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Flash and many other creative and technical programs.

The Cons:

Time. Between learning about all the programs, design and finalizing user experience, building a website is a time commitment. As a business owner, you may not have the time it takes to create and maintain your new site.

Professional. For a website to look great, drive sales, and work properly takes a lot of effort. Building your own website could lead to it looking unprofessional simply because you aren’t a web designer.

Copycats: When the average person creates their own business website they typically gravitate towards prefabricated templates. While not an inherently bad idea, it can cause your website to blend in with the crowd.

Your online presence will help you make strides in your enterprise. Whether you decide to create one yourself or work with the professionals at Jelly Websites, a great website is just a few clicks away! If you would like to build, improve, or better maintain your website, call the design team at Jelly Websites today at 951.371.9327 or visit www.jellywebsites.com for more information.

Single Page Websites are Becoming Popular | Prescott, AZ

What is the number one advantage of a single page website? Simplicity. A full-page website is no longer the standard for businesses to attract clients; a single page website is just as effective without all the hassle. When a website is cluttered with drop downs, distracting imagery or lengthy text, it very quickly becomes a nuisance for current or prospective clients. So, what is a single page website, and how does it work?

Straight to the Point. A single page website is just that – one page visitors need only scroll through to understand your enterprise. With only so much space, single page sites force you to retain only the most relevant content your customers should know. It retains your company message and voice without the distraction of navigating through tabs.

Easy Navigation. When all your prospective client has to do is scroll down to learn everything they need to know, they are more apt to enjoy their time on your site; an experience money can’t buy. Limiting the amount of effort someone has to exert while on your site allows them readily learn the information they seek, and better understand your company.

Encourage Action. Much more of a journey than a task, easy navigation allows visitors to absorb the information you want them to know. It also serves to gently guide them towards any action you may want them to take, because they aren’t busy just trying to navigate what your enterprise is all about.

Mobile Conversion. As we spend more time learning about the world and conducting business via our cell phones, having a website that can effectively convert into a mobile format is an important consideration. When the only action to take in order to learn more about your business is scroll down, your on-the-go clientele will thank you!

For more information about single-page websites, visit us at www.jellywebsites.com or call our team at 951.371.9327 today!

Are You Building Your Customer Base Online? | Prescott, AZ

Businesses in the technological age have a lot of options when it comes to getting their name out there to build a customer base. While it may seem like you need to do it all, there are options and strategies that may work better for some enterprises than others. Here are a few means and considerations to keep in mind as you continue to grow your business and generate clientele.

Social Media. With millions of people are viewing content on various social media platforms every single day, it makes sense for your business to understand it’s media niche and create content. Generating content relevant to your business on appropriate channels can greatly expand your presence and connect you to potential clients.

Search Engine Optimization. Utilizing keywords that highlight your business, products or services online works to drive existing and potential clients back to your business is what SEO is all about. Optimizing the ease with which people can find your business with keywords will keep you at the top of major search engines, driving traffic and maintaining your position there.

Blogging. Blogging is a great way to keep people at the forefront of all things happening with your business. Utilizing SEO strategies throughout your website or other online channels is great, but a blog is an easy and current means of furthering your ability to be found. Around 350 words a post, blogs can easily be written to bring a voice to the brand and laden with searchable keywords that drive viewership to your site.

Keep it Simple. Your enterprise matters, and the way it presents to your clientele will make the difference between a new client and missed opportunity. Keeping your website clean, easy to navigate and written to provide relevant information, rather than fluff, will give you the advantage to competitors.

If you are ready to start building your customer base online, call us at 951.371.9327 or visit us at www.jellywebsites.com for more information.

Increase your Sales with an Ecommerce Website | Prescott, AZ

Ecommerce refers to the sale of physical goods online but can also refer to any commercial transaction that is facilitated through the internet. From mittens to hand crafted dog treats, an ecommerce website should be considered by any business owner seeking to expand their reach.

A business e-commerce website can be a highly effective way to tap into internet traffic and may increase your earning potential by 20% annually. A website will allow your products or services to expand beyond your locality and within the reach of millions of potential clients. An e-commerce centric website will allow you to streamline and track sales in real time and allow you to better understand your demographic. By advertising and expanding reachability through an online storefront, you also gain information on how to improve from the consumer’s point of view.

Additional benefits include low start up and operation costs, remote access to run your business and scale-ability.

Operation Costs. An ecommerce website, once established, will quickly become an easy budgeting item. Typically, packaging and fees are the only recurring cost associated with an ecommerce operation. Things such as shipping, percentage taken by any host websites (like Etsy or Poshmark) and packaging quickly become recurring budget items.

Remote Access. Who wouldn’t like to manage their enterprise on the beach? Working remotely is the new craze and an ecommerce website could certainly help get you there.

Scale-ability. Once the hard work of importing inventory, writing descriptions and developing a marketing strategy are through your business will be ready to grow. Growing it will go from having been an intense initiation to the casual update as the natural evolution of your success continues.

Click here to learn more about how a marketing service company can take your shop from local to global.

For more information on ecommerce business websites, contact Jelly Websites in Prescott, AZ at 951-371-9327 or visit our website at www.jellywebsites.com.

Adding a Landing Page to your Marketing Mix | Prescott, AZ

On the surface, a landing page doesn’t seem like a marketing tool, however it can be a great way to promote yourself. Landing pages target audiences and points them to the product or service you are promoting. Targeted content also means that your landing page will stand out from your website; something your readers will remember.

Have you grown your online presence lately? A winning marketing strategy is one that diversifies the ways it attains and retains viewership. A landing page can provide multiple opportunities for growing your business such as a call to action, lead generation and search campaigns.

Call to Action. Including a call to action (to visit during happy hour for example), or a form your visitor can fill out to receive updates are two ways to expand your reach. These can begin generating or growing an email list of clients interested in the latest of what you have to offer.

Lead Generation. This is the process of turning a stranger into a fan of your enterprise. A landing page can add that extra touch that converts that person into your newest client. Additionally, a broader reach will allow you to begin analyzing trends among your customers, allowing you to better tailor your marketing over time.

Search Campaigns. Search campaigns target those seeking like content to your promotion when they search on the internet. They can be incorporated into a landing page literally pulling potential customers to you, for you. Something to consider when creating a landing page is how interactive it is. The more interactive, the longer a potential client may view it. But if it has too much going on, it can clutter the page and actually drive away a client. Nevertheless, landing pages are easy to get right and can be a great addition to any marketing strategy.

If you’d like to find out more about landing pages, contact Jelly Websites in Prescott, AZ at (951) 371-9327 or visit us online at www.jellywebsites.com for additional information.

Does Your Business Have a Good Domain Name? | Prescott, AZ

At Jelly Websites, we understand that your online presence says a lot about you and your enterprise, that is why we want to offer advice to the new entrepreneur seeking to get their brand out into the global marketplace.

Our first tip is to establish a domain name for your website that is going to get attention and resonate with your clientele. With so many businesses in the world, we understand that it may be intimidating to initiate your brand into the online sphere of influence. Here are some things to consider that may help you get started!

Don’t make it too similar to a competitor – Your business is your own, so let it shine with an original name that pops!

Be creative and catchy – the more individual your enterprise is, the easier it will be to catch the eye of a potential client.

Take the name for a test drive – once you think you have the perfect name, type it into a URL address bar to find out if the name is available for purchase!

Don’t overthink it - the easier it is for the domain name of your business to remain in the mind of your consumer while resonating with your brand, the better! Sometimes this means just keeping things simple.

When deciding a domain name that is right for you, it’s a big deal! When you work with the professionals at Jelly Websites, we are here for you every step of the way, from creative domain names to aesthetic design and website maintenance, we want to see your business thrive online!If you would like to learn more about how a domain name for your company may enhance your online presence and expand your clientele, give us a call at 951.371.9327 or visit us online at www.jellywebsites.com.