If your website isn’t currently using HTTPS protocol with a Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate, getting one needs to jump to the top of your priority list. Having this added layer of security will make your visitors feel safe while looking at your website. Without this certificate, you may be losing visitors…they can see a “Not Secure” warning and then leave. Here are some reasons that an SSL certificate needs to be a top priority.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s essentially an additional and separate layer of protection that Google is forcing websites to use. An HTTPS protocol is required for any website that will be taking payment information, such as an e-commerce website. While this security layer is not required for all websites, it's a good idea with the recent changes in how Google is displaying this type of website.

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL is a technology used to establish an encrypted link between your website server and a browser. This essentially tells your website visitors that they’re interacting with the proper server. Without it, a hacker could interfere and alter the page to gather personal information from your visitors. While SSL certificates don’t necessarily prevent an attack or distribution of malware, it encrypts the communication between the server and the user’s browser. It can also help improve your search ranking. Google is rewarding websites that use HTTPS and an SSL certificate.

What that Means for Your Website

With an SSL installed and HTTPS enabled for your website, the browser will display a padlock just before your URL. Without it, the browser will display a "Not secure" warning, and some browsers will force website visitors to agree to continue on to an unsecured site. Even if your site is safe and secure, the warning will show if you do not have HTTPS Protocol. This can scare visitors and cause them to leave your website. This certificate can also help establish your business as a trusted brand to website visitors.

Our website design company can help you with this important security measure by implementing HTTPS with an SSL certificate. We strongly recommend using HTTPS protocol and adding an SSL certificate to your website as soon as possible. We can help purchase and install the right security certificates for your specific website. If your website is lacking an SSL certificate -- or you aren't sure if you have one or not -- one of our MSW Interactive Designs rockstars can help!

Hashtags are an effective social media marketing tool. It's a way for searchers to follow trends and other key phrases to help narrow down the topic in which they show interest. Hashtags have been around for a while but have predominantly been used on Twitter and Instagram. More recently, we've seen a shift in the hashtag landscape and more social media platforms are allowing - even welcoming hashtags.

Benefits of Using Hashtags on Social Media:

Get Found by Interested Searchers
A hashtag is a proven search tool that many internet users utilize. If your business comes up for a popular and relevant hashtag, you'll likely be easily found by people who are searching for a topic that pertains to your business.

Show Authority in the Industry
A hashtag can help brand your business and gain momentum in an online social setting.  This can help set you apart from your competition and give you a competitive advantage in the industry. A successful hashtag that showcases your business can help you stand out.

Increase Business Reach
Getting your message out is one of the main reasons businesses are on social media. The right hashtag (or hashtag combination) can help you reach more potential customers with your message. Create brand awareness for those who may not traditionally be targeted with your message through the use of hashtags.

Attract New People
With the use of hashtags, a wider range of people are more likely to see your message. Someone that may not have been in your traditional message target may come across your business via a hashtag. A memorable hashtag not only gains attention for your business, but it can also attract new customers that may have not found your business before.

Showcase Creativity
Using a hashtag specific for your business is an opportunity to have some fun and show your personality! Build excitement around your brand with a creative new hashtag. This can also help you set yourself apart from your competition. A creative hashtag can help you claim your place in your industry on social media.

Best Practices for Hashtag Use:

• Keep it relevant - a trending hashtag may be tempting to use to gain quick exposure for your business, it's a fast way to turn followers off. 
• Be consistent - once you find a great hashtag for your business, stick with it. 
• Have fun with it - this is your opportunity to help your business stand out and show off your creative side. 
• Don't overdo it -  too many hashtags can be counterproductive; it's best to find 3-7 solid hashtags for your business, depending on the industry. 
• Localize the usage - add a location to your hashtag to better target your ideal customer, especially if you offer a location specific product or service. 

Hashtags are more popular now than they have been before in the online marketing world. When used correctly, a hashtag can help your business reach more people than it otherwise would. Our internet marketing company knows how impactful the right business hashtag can be and how it can help a business grow their marketing efforts.

What Client Would You Clone? Seriously, who is your best client?
You know the one. 

It's the client that you bend over backward for ... every single time.
You take their call ... 100% of the time.
If they cause you a minor headache, they send you Excedrin.
They value your expertise and trust it.
They are repeat buyers.
They tell their friends.
They are raving fans!
Have a mental picture of your best client?

LET'S GIVE IT A TRY!

HOW TO USE YOUR IDEAL CLIENT PERSONA

Turn to side two of the template and let's put this puppy to work!
(Don't skip this step)

Now that you've created your ideal client persona, you use it to:

• Hone your message to generation, gender, education level, motivations, who influences them, and how they make decisions. Based on what you know, make a list of important considerations in your messaging to really resonate with this persona.
• Determine where EXACTLY you need to spend your marketing dollars. In other words, you know what specifically they are listening to, watching, and reading. You know what they drive by daily. You know how they prefer to communicate. You know who they are interacting with every day and what social media are they on. Based on your answers, make a list of where you need to be seen (ads & marketing) and prioritize it around this persona and your budget. You can even categorize it by things you "must do" and things you should "consider"  doing.
• What questions did your ideal client ask when they first considered working with you? Writing them down and developing materials and marketing around the answers to those questions will help remove the barrier for new clients who are like them.
• Show appreciation and develop a raving fan! You know what motivates your ideal client and what it takes for them to feel appreciated. Once you get a clone of this client, this is how you'll want to nurture the relationship to develop "raving fan" status in their eyes. It's your raving fans who are your best and most predictable referral engines. Investing some of your marketing budget in this area can pay huge dividends!

Surprisingly, most businesses never make the time to do it!

Instead, they throw marketing dollars around and hope something sticks somewhere. If you take the time to work through this exercise for your business, it will be a competitive advantage.

When done correctly and with enough specificity, it will easily be the number one tool in your marketing plan to guide you to smarter decisions around where to spend your marketing dollars and how to bring extreme clarity to your message.

Bottom line - you'll save money and you'll work with more of the kind of people you LOVE to work with!

Life is too short for anything else, right?