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Help with Instagram

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You can book a free 15-minute call, so we can discuss the findings from our review. We can also share screens if you are in front of your PC.

You can Book It Yourself 

OR…contact us by completing this form



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    Service Carousel

    Help with WordPress Website Security

    WordPress isn’t completely secure out of the box. There are extra configuration steps to protect your website from intruders.

    The most common missed items…
    – Exposing your WordPress version number
    – Exposing your usernames to the world so anyone can see them
    – Not blocking repeated login failures (these are usually attempts to break in)
    – Not hiding or renaming the login page
    – The WordPress files and plugin files are outdated. They need to be kept current, to close known security holes.

    Would you like a free security assessment?

    Here are 2 options…

    You can book a free 15-minute call, so we can discuss the findings from our review. We can also share screens if you are in front of your PC.

    You can Book It Yourself

    OR…contact us by completing this form



      Categories
      Facebook Marketing

      The 5 Things People are Going to Your Facebook to Learn

      Today, there are more than 2.23 billion monthly Facebook users. This represents an 11% increase from last year. In case you had any doubts about the functionality of Facebook, this statistic should put it right to rest.

      As if that weren’t enough, there are also 1.15 billion people using Facebook on their mobile device each day, which represents an increase of 23% from last year. With all these people on Facebook, we’ve got one question: what are they coming to learn?

      If you’re not familiar with Facebook as a platform, or you’re working on ways to make your interaction on the network more functional and effective, the first step is understanding what these people (or at least your portion of these people) want from you. What are they coming to your page to learn? How can you give it to them as effective as possible? What can you do to make your interactions on the platform more effective and straightforward?

      Here’s your complete breakdown.

      Why You Need a Facebook Business Page

      If your business does not have a Facebook page yet, its time to make one. With upwards of 60 million active Facebook business pages, participating in on this social platform is now becoming essential to ensure you’re connecting with your customer base.

      Based on the sheer size of Facebook, having a presence on the site is an effective way for your business to gain the insight it needs to be successful in the social media space. A Facebook business-centric feature called the Insights tool allows for real-time updates on how your content is performing and your followers’ responses or lack thereof. This useful and compelling data for a business in the midst of creating a strategy for delivering strategic content.

      Creating a Customer-Centric Facebook Page: What Users Want

      With so many customers on Facebook, it’s essential to ensure that you’re giving your clients what they need. If you don’t know what those things are it’s impossible to make it happen. Fortunately, we’ve got the answers to those questions. Here’s what customers are coming to your Facebook page to find out:

      1. Customer Support

      One of the primary reasons customers come to a Facebook page is to locate customer service. Facebook is the ideal platform to respond publicly to customer inquiries, as well as a great place to provide one-on-one private conversations.

      Today, more than 1 billion people use Facebook Messenger each month. That’s a huge number! Since it’s integrated automatically with each Facebook page, though, it stands out as a powerful tool for answering customer questions and ensuring your clients are getting what they need from your page.

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      Facebook users and businesses right now send more than 1 billion messages daily. This is a huge amount, and yet 87% of all customer queries on Facebook go unanswered. While this isn’t great for the customers issuing unanswered questions, it represents an opportunity for companies who want to capitalize on the customer service offerings of the platform.

      Wondering how best to deliver customer service on the platform? Chatbots are a great option. They respond immediately to customers and are a great way to ensure customers are getting what they want from your business.

      2. Deals

      Everyone loves a bargain, and your Facebook audience is no different. If you’re like most Facebook users in your own right, you probably find yourself following many brands just because you know they’re posting outstanding deals, codes, and giveaways. You’re not alone in this. Today, 35% of all Facebook users like pages so they can participate in promotions.

      Not sure what kind of contests you should be running? Caption-style contests are a great option, as they bring in more than 5.5x more comments than other posts. You can also feel free to use your creativity to find a contest type that works for you. No matter what you do, it’s essential to ensure you’re providing value for your customers. This is the key to winning their hearts for good.

      3. Content

      The most important part of Facebook is content. While customers come to your page for dozens of reasons, content is one of the most central and essential. While it seems obvious, you’d be shocked to learn how many companies share content on Facebook that’s more confusing than it is helpful.

      No matter what you do, don’t forget that customers are coming to your page to learn more about your company, and they need to know that you’re going to make it worthwhile for them. Sharing information and content is the best way to do this. No matter who you are or what kind of business you run, your content should be informative and useful. Make sure it’s relevant to your business and industry.

      4. Information

      Lots of customers start their interactions on Facebook for the sake of finding out where your company is located, what your hours are, or how they can interact with your brand more effectively. With this in mind, be sure you’re offering the information your customers need.

      Your NAP information should always be current and up-to-date, for example, and should change whenever any of the information within it does. You’ll also want to update your hours according to your holiday hours and anything else that may change.

      5. Community

      Facebook users want to share the things they love with other people. When someone loves a brand or product on Facebook, they naturally want to share that product and brand with other people. This is where the importance of the community comes into play. Think about how you foster community in your daily life.

      The same goes for people on Facebook. They want to come to your page to find a sense of community and excitement. This is essential. With this in mind, encourage interaction among your Facebook community. Ask questions, promote a vote on a selection of choices, and watch your participants create discussions and keep comments going. It’s a great way to foster community on your digital page.

      3 Fast Features of Every Great Facebook Page

      Checked off all the essentials? Here are three features to add to your Facebook page to stand out from the crowd:

      • Plenty of photos. Only have a few, low-quality photos of your building, office space, or products? Change this up, starting right now! Customers are highly visual creatures, and they want to be able to flip through their fair share of beautiful photos when they come to your social page.
      • Fresh content. If your page doesn’t have fresh content, you’re missing out. In addition to posting your own pages, blogs, and materials, be sure to share items from other companies or similar pages in your industry. As a general rule, 80% of your posts should be original to you and your brand, and 20% should be curated from outside sources.
      • Quizzes. Encourage customers to get interactive with your brand by offering creative, unique quizzes. Not only are these fun for your customers, but they allow you to get to know your customers better and to use that information in future marketing.

      Welcome to Your New, Customer-Centric Facebook Page!

      Facebook doesn’t have to be a difficult place to interact. And as we stated above, its time to finally make one or to overhaul an outdated page. By focusing on your interaction in the ways above, you can create a customer-centric Facebook page that which engages potential consumers while continuing to grow your brand.

      Need help overhauling your Facebook page? Contact our team today to learn more.

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      Categories
      General Tips

      3 Tips for Correctly Utilizing SAP Software

      SAP is a software company that produces popular enterprise resource planning(ERP) software and associated applications for businesses. SAP’s ERP system allows its clients to execute all of their business processes in an integrated environment.

      ERP integration is extremely beneficial because it ensures that information flows between individual SAP software components without data entry redundancy. It also helps with the enforcement of legal and process controls. In addition, ERP allows for more efficient use of key resources, such as manpower and equipment. This article will discuss how to get the most out of your SAP software.

      Understand its Usage and Limitations

      The benefits of SAP software are only limited by the SAP-specific skills and abilities of your workforce. Many small companies lack the financial resources and time to adequately train their employees to properly use this powerful software.

      SAP software is complex, and it is best to slowly implement individual functions or features. This will give employees enough time to become proficient with the software. Another limitation of ERP software is that it can’t be customized on a deep level. Typically, customizations involve modifying a software’s structure, which is prohibited with SAP products. This is an important factor to consider before purchasing if your company wants to tailor the software.

      Understand Your Licenses

      It’s important for business leaders to have a clear understanding of the terms and conditions specified in their contracts, as this can help them avoid indirect access violations. Also, individual vendors charge annual licensing fees that can be pricey. These fees are typically not based on the size of the company or its profitability.

      It is also important to remember that any use must be licensed regardless of whether a fee is charged. Direct access of the SAP software is defined as human use of the software. Indirect access is defined as any access not made by humans but that is automated, such as by using bots or software.

      Understand its Flexibility

      SAP software is very flexible and allows businesses to make their own rules within the guidelines of the ERP software. Companies can also limit employee access to certain areas in the ERP environment. For example, you could restrict access to pay and other sensitive data to specified employees only. SAP can also integrate its data into most databases.

      In closing, SAP ERP software offers a host of benefits for businesses, but it is important to know the limitations and licensing of the software. In addition, employees must be adequately trained to maximize the benefits of the software.

      For more ways to improve your business, you should be utilizing website data and analytics. Let Flash Forward Sites help you take your business farther!

      Categories
      Customer Appreciation

      How to Host a Remarkable Customer Appreciation Party

      If you’re planning to throw a customer appreciation party, there’s one thing you have to do, no matter what: make sure it doesn’t suck. Because the stated purpose of a client event is to celebrate your customers, recognize milestones, and say “thank-you” for all the business that has kept your company afloat and growing, it’s essential to ensure you’re getting it right when you begin the efforts of throwing a client appreciation party.

      The stakes here are high, and you can’t afford to miss the mark.

      Think of it this way: the last thing you want to do is invest largely in the event, pouring time and money into it, only to realize that it isn’t creating the ROI you want. Mistakes, in this arena, are costly, and it can be very damaging to try and rush a party without taking the time to pay attention to detail.

      Here’s what you need to know to create a customer appreciation party that drives results.

      How to Host an Event That Knocks Everyone’s Socks Off

      Never was a party planner? That’s okay. You don’t have to be, and it’s still possible to throw an event that keeps everyone wanting to come back for more.

      There’s a catch, though, and that’s simply that throwing a “wow” event requires ongoing planning and organization, as well as careful attention to detail. Depending on the size of the event, you’ll want to start planning about 3-6 months in advance.

      This gives you enough time to iron out details without sacrificing anything, and not enough time that your customers have forgotten you’re even having a party by the time it comes around.

      If you have a team that’s going to help you plan the event, it’s a great idea to meet a few times a month to discuss details and ensure everyone is on the same page.

      5 Things to Consider for Your Event

      The most overwhelming part of planning a customer appreciation party is that the process involves dozens of easy-to-miss details. Luckily, this list will help ensure you’re not overlooking anything you should be paying careful attention to:

      1. The Purpose of the Event

      Sure, a customer appreciation party is meant to show your customers you appreciate them, but what else are you looking to create at this event. For example, if you want to lightly drive attention to a new product, good, or service, now is a great time to do it. If you’ve laid the right foundation, your customers will be primed, shop-ready, and more than willing to hear about what you have to offer, regarding new products. Bonus points if they go out into the world and tell their friends.

      [content_leads]

      This is also a great time to announce a shift of direction in your company or to release any exciting new news regarding management, location, ownership, etc. that you may have.

      2. Who Does What

      Defining responsibilities is an essential part of ensuring the party goes off without a hook. It’s also critical for making sure nothing gets overlooked or neglected as you take your customers down to party town. To this end, be sure to lay out key details, such as who does what, the theme of the party, the event’s budget, date, and initial guest list. From here, team leaders can assign more specific tasks and work together to ensure every base is covered, from start to finish.

      3. Invitations

      How will you invite your customers? This is a major consideration and one that comes down to how you typically interact with your customers. If you send a great deal of direct mail, for example, you may choose to mail out paper invitations. You can also invite on social media or send out digital invitations, via your email newsletter or a service like Paperless Post. If you send out emailed invitations, be sure to follow up about 6-8 weeks before the party date.

      4. Entertainment

      Entertainment is essential to any great party. What you choose to hire depends, in large part, on the type of company you’re running. If you’re in touch with local bands you know and trust, consider hiring one of them to play the party for you. You can also look into creating an office band or making a move to bring in some outside entertainment that you’ve heard good things about.  

      No matter what, entertainment should be exciting, appropriate, and something that your customer base will enjoy.

      5. Your Venue

      Depending on the size of your event, you may choose to have it at your office, or offsite, somewhere else.

      The type of venue you choose depends, in large part, on the size of the party, the theme, and the budget. If you’re on a budget, consider looking into non-traditional venue options, such as parks, local community buildings, and restaurants. These are all great places to hold a unique event without going over-budget.

      If you need help finding a good venue, you can always look to local party planners, your local chamber of commerce, and party rental companies who may have some great recommendations.

      What About ROI?

      Now that you’ve planned a killer customer appreciation party, you’ll want to come up with a plan to gauge the ROI for the event. After all, why put all this money into a party if you’re not getting something back? This is especially true if you’re offering things like coupons, vouchers, discounts, or other “appreciation” prizes to your customers, or if you’re giving them free items or materials as a “thank you.”

      To gauge your ROI, you’ll want to refer back to the goal you initially set. For example, if the goal of your party was simply to encourage engagement with your customers, you’ll want to find a way to tie new business back to the people who attended your party. You can do this by adding an option to your “how you heard about us” form or by simply tracking coupons, discounts, and vouchers.

      This is a great way to keep an eye on how far the effects of your party truly go, and whether your ROI is positive or negative. It’ll also provide a basis for planning future parties, and learning what to do and what not to do.

      Making Sure Customers Appreciate Your Appreciation Party

      The point of your customer appreciation party is to thank the people who keep you in business and allow you to keep growing, changing, and reaching for your goals. Because of this, it’s a significant event and not one you want to take lightly. Fortunately, these five tips can help you cover your bases and create an event you know you’ll be proud of. They’re also an excellent way to make the most of your existing customer base and ensure they remember your brand as one that cares deeply about them. So, what are you waiting for? Get planning!

      Need help putting together an award-winning customer appreciation party? Contact our team today for top-quality assistance!

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      Categories
      Facebook Marketing

      5 Reasons Your Business Needs to Post to Facebook 2x a day, Every day

      If you run a business, you know there are dozens of reasons to be on Facebook. The first is that Facebook is the largest social media platform in the world, and that there are millions of people who use it daily.

      The truth is, how you interact on Facebook makes a major difference in the overall trajectory of your business. If you’re not posting regularly or posting the right things, you risk missing out on traffic you could be earning. Fortunately, there are ways to get around this and to create a social posting strategy that truly works for you and your life. Moreover, one that works for your business.

      Here’s what you need to know about why interacting more on Facebook is such a great idea.

      The Benefits of Facebook Interaction

      First things first: why does interacting on Facebook matter so much? Here are a few things you should  know:

      • Facebook messenger has more than 600 million users
      • There are 20,000 people on Facebook every single second, which amounts to 11 million users on Facebook every 18 minutes
      • Facebook users are accessing Facebook from their mobile platforms 79% of the time
      • 50,000 messages are sent on   every minute
      • 500,000 Facebook likes each minute
      • Every hour, Facebook generates $1.4 million in revenue
      • Facebook earns $2.5 billion a quarter from mobile advertising
      • People share 1.3 million pieces of content each minute on Facebook
      • Facebook’s user base is 66% millennials

      Why You Should Post 2x Daily on Facebook

      When it comes to Facebook, there’s a solid two-a-day rule that holds pretty true. There are many reasons for this. The first is that posting twice a day is essential for any company with a substantial Facebook following. In these cases, posting twice a day is almost literally the only way to maximize clicks and engagement on content.

      There are also many other reasons to post twice a day on Facebook. Here are some of the largest:

      1. Posting Twice Daily Hits Your Entire Audience

      Facebook’s algorithm has undergone many changes in recent years. Because of this, posting twice daily is one of the best ways to ensure that you’re actually reaching your entire audience. If you only post once a day, you’ll miss certain audiences that aren’t on Facebook at certain times.

      [content_leads]

      When you post twice a day, you’ll hit your entire audience and ensure that everyone sees the content you have to offer. What’s more, posting twice a day is a great way to reuse content or share new material with people.

      2. Posting Twice a day Keeps You Accountable

      It’s easy to lapse when you start posting on Facebook. Fortunately, committing to a twice-daily posting schedule will keep you accountable and on top of things.

      This is especially true for brands that are looking to create solid and specific outcomes for their brands. When you post twice a day, it’s easier than ever before to do this.

      3. More Engagement Means More Sales

      It’s simple math: the more engagement you get on your Facebook page, the more sales you’re going to make. Here’s a simple breakdown:

      • More engagement on your page means a higher rank for your page
      • More reach on your page means more traffic to your website and blogs
      • More reach for your blog posts means more clicks on your posts
      • More sales mean more money for you and your company

      Think all these results sound great? Perfect, but you can’t achieve them without posting regularly to Facebook. Unless you spend a significant amount of time on the platform, your customers won’t reward you with their engagement or interaction.  

      With this in mind, keep your engagement on the Facebook platform routine and regular. It’s the best way to create more engagement and, ultimately, to drive more sales.

      4. Facebook Wins for Referral Traffic

      Of all the social media platforms out there, Facebook drives the most referral traffic of anything. Compared to Pinterest, YouTube, and Twitter, Facebook is the heavy-hitter when it comes to driving traffic and keeping your brand in front of customers. In December of 2014, for example, Facebook drove nearly 25% of all web referral traffic, compared to the 31.24% driven collectively by all other social sites combined. If you’re still using search as your primary source of traffic, this major boost in social referrals could be a huge boon for your company. Especially as search traffic continues to change, social media referral traffic continues to become more important. The catch, though, is that you can only take advantage of this social referral traffic if you frequently post on the platform.

      5. Facebook Currently Houses More Than 40 Million Active Pages for Small Business Users

      While it may seem like there’s no reason to put yourself in the line of fire and compete with 40 million other small businesses, this is more of a “keeping up with the Joneses” situation.

      If you’re not on the same platform as 40 million other competitors, you’re going to miss out on traffic, sales, and conversions that should have and could have been yours. With this in mind, it pays to get onto Facebook, carve out your niche, and commit to a regular posting schedule for the sake of keeping your audience engaged and attached.

      The Case for Facebook

      Facebook is a powerful marketing platform, and it deserves an active spot in your marketing arsenal. If you’re not posting twice daily on the platform, though, you’re not using it to its full potential. By posting twice daily on the platform, you stand to increase engagement with your customers, ensure your posts are reaching your entire audience (rather than just part of it), drive attention around your sales, events, and promotions, and create a dynamic and exciting Facebook page experience that will keep customers coming back for more.

      If you’re having trouble maintaining the 2x weekly Facebook posting schedule, one of your best options is to enlist a professional agency that will work with you to ensure you’re managing the platform the way you want to, and that your customers are getting what they need from your agency.

      Our team is here to ensure you get quality Facebook posting and management services, no matter what kind of company you run. Contact us today to learn more about our social media engagement services, or to select your ideal package now.

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      Categories
      Local Search

      5 Website Elements That Will Make Your Local Customers Happy

      Did you know that more than 50% of customers who conduct a local search will visit a store within a day? What’s more,78% of local mobile searches result in an offline purchase, and about 56% of all “on-the-go” searches have local intent.

      To put this another way, local search is BOOMING, and now is the time to hop aboard.

      If you’re wondering how to optimize your website to speak to these local customers, wonder no longer.

      This post is here to guide you through the process.

      5 Must-Have Website Elements for Local SEO

      If local customers are everywhere, how do you attract them to your website? Here are seven actionable tips to implement right now:

      1. Keep Your NAP Consistent Across All Directories

      NAP stands for name, address, phone number, and refers to the “how to find us” information you must always keep consistent. The reason for this is simple: NAP information is instrumental in ensuring customers know how to locate you. If it’s inconsistent or inaccurate, you thwart the best attempts of your customers to track you down.

      [content_leads]

      Unfortunately, about 49% of businesses never update their NAP information online. To make the most of local search, don’t be like these businesses. Instead, keep your NAP information consistent and update it across all major listings whenever anything changes.

      2. Collect Positive Reviews

      If you want to build credibility for your business, collecting local reviews is one of the best things you can do. The reasons for this are many. The most important, though, is trust.

      Right now, 84% of customers trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations from friends. Because of this, collecting a few high-quality online reviews is one of the best ways to position your company as trustworthy and reliable, and ensure those local customers keep walking through your doors.

      If you’re not sure where to start collecting reviews, turn to social sites like Facebook, your Google listing, and relevant platforms like Yelp and Angie’s List.

      3. Create Local Content

      If you want to dominate local search, you need to focus on dominating local content, as well. Local content serves a few essential purposes when it comes to your site’s SEO. To start, it makes it possible to earn links and get the “link juice” you need to ensure search engines are pointing customers to your site.

      Secondly, creating local content positions you as an authority in your industry, and ensures that customer will turn to you for information and knowledge.

      Finally, having a large amount of local content in your holster gives you material to share on social media and boosts the likelihood that you’ll land positive press mentions, which, in turn, make it possible to grab the attention of new customers and earn the business you deserve.

      4. Optimize for Google My Business

      Google is the most dominant search engine in the world, and it wants to focus on sharing content it can support and verify.

      While Google uses dozens of different metrics to verify a site’s quality, Google My Business is their primary tool. As it stands now, Google evaluates My Business listings to determine if a business is authentic, learn what it offers, and push listings to customers.

      With this in mind, it’s essential to optimize for Google My Business. Here are a few steps to do that:

      • Create and verify a Google My Business page
      • Use Google Posts within your account
      • Gain reviews on your Google My Business page
      • Encourage customers to post and respond to reviews online

      Google automatically assembles this information for your business based on other data they can find about your business online. This is important because, unless you claim your business listing through GMB, you could be missing out on positive reviews and feedback left about your company across the web.

      5. Optimize Web Content

      The final step in optimizing your site for local SEO is to turn your attention to your lesser-noticed content, including your URL, title tags, headers, and meta description.

      While a great deal of local SEO is just showing up and making it possible for customers to find you, there’s also a very technical aspect to the process. Since Google indexes your pages for later use, it pays to ensure all of your content is optimized accordingly.

      With this in mind, check your URL, title tags, site and page headers, and meta descriptions for relevant elements like keywords, geo-targeted information, and more.

      Not only will these elements help your content appear in search engines, but it’ll make it possible for highly desirable local customers to find you.

      The Case for Local SEO

      Today, four out of five customers turn to search engines to find information on local businesses. Because of this, you could miss out on about 80% of your possible customers by simply failing to optimize for local search.

      Fortunately, positioning your website for local search is easier today than it’s ever been, and following these five tips is a great way to get a leg-up on the competition.

      While SEO is always changing, the importance of local search will only continue to climb, and now is a fantastic time to hop aboard.

      Need help with your website? Contact our team today to start your project!

      [/content_leads]

      Categories
      Search Engine Tips

      5 Tips For Increasing Traffic To Your Business Website

      The more visitors that arrive at your website, the more potential customers see the products and services you’re offering. The more potential consumers you can attract to your site, the more sales you could possibly make. For these reasons, targeted traffic to your website is very important for your online business. What are some effective ways you can boost or drive traffic to your website to increase your conversion rate? Here are a few ideas.

      Guest Posts

      There’s an ongoing debate about the value of guest posts. With the correct approach, guest posts can be very beneficial to your online marketing efforts and generate lots of new traffic. It’s important to blog only on websites that are relevant to your audience so you have a better chance of generating valuable high-quality traffic.

      Be sure to offer a lead that will tempt new visitors back to your website. You can also offer to have other businesses to guest post on your website in return. Remember that you don’t have to stick exclusively to text and images. Guest posts or appearances can include podcasts, social media takeovers, and even video. By 2021, it’s projected that 80% of all internet traffic will be video.

      Reviews

      Reviews can be an invaluable tool in drawing traffic to your business website. It’s even been said that reviews are key to local search engine optimization. Statistics show that 90% of consumers make buying decisions based on positive online reviews and 94% of those require a business with at least a four-star rating. That’s an impossible statistic to ignore. One of the most important things a small business can do today in its marketing is to take control of their online review score and focus on ways to maintain and improve it.

      On-Page SEO

      When it comes to search engine optimization (SEO), many are so mired in optimizing keywords and heading tags, they leave out some equally effective techniques like on-page SEO. Your business website and its content need to be relevant and have value for those seeking what you have to offer. Creating unique, relevant content along with captivating meta descriptions takes time. Optimizing for relevant keywords takes time, too. Is it worth it? Absolutely. Your SEO needs to be on point to be competitive, so the best course of action is to cover all of your bases and SEO tactics.

      Social Media

      Social media is one of the best tools in your marketing toolbox. Social media venues have huge audiences and provide an efficient way to get your content in front of more people and to sneak your goods and services into the personal networks of the fans you have already.

      Hashtags are becoming increasingly important on social media venues. With so much content out there online, people are using hashtags to focus only on what they want to see. If you can discern the relevant hashtags your fans are using, you can focus directly on your target audience.

      Email Marketing

      It surprises many that not only is email marketing alive and well, but it’s also a very effective way of bringing traffic to your website. The goal with email marketing is to welcome new sign-ups and then foster a relationship with your subscribers. The folks who subscribe to your mailing list want you to email them. It’s a good thing you’re hard at work on creating content of value to interest them. Let them know how often they will hear from you, and keep your mailings focused on your business but in an engaging, honest way.

      Takeaway

      We hope you can use these five tips for increasing website traffic and implement them for your business in an effective way. In optimizing your on-page SEO, you’ll increase your search engine rankings and draw more unique visitors to your business site. In using hashtags in all of your social media marketing, you can target new customers that you might not have reached otherwise. Email marketing will help you maintain relationships with your dedicated fans and guest posts will help you draw potential new customers from other sites. Reviews are an invaluable tool that will help people decide whether to buy your products or services. In using these five tactics, you’ll be on your way to boosting your search engine ranking, growing your online audience, and finding new ways to drive targeted traffic to your website.

       

      “If you build it – They will come” doesn’t work with websites. You need people to VISIT your website. That means more needs to be done to direct people there. That’s where I can help. I would be happy to discuss what you need.

      Categories
      Facebook Tips

      4 Ways to Grow Your Business with Elasticsearch

      One of the most critical decisions that you will have to make for your business data is getting the right storage and search tool. There are tools which are much better than others when it comes to the creation of relationships between data. At the same time, there are other tools which excel at assessing vast amounts of data and making sense of it for later retrieval and use. Elasticsearch is one of the latest and most efficient data storage and search tools. Here are four ways which you can use Elasticsearch to grow and develop your business into what you always wanted.

      Getting Critical Business Intelligence Data

      One of the reasons why you will need elastic search is to gather vast amounts of data connected to your business, analyze it, and store it for later use. The type of information that is assessed by the tool includes customer search queries, their shopping habits, and other important data which will come in handy when you are trying the make marketing decisions. By analyzing the data on Elasticsearch, you will create a winning marketing strategy for higher rates of lead conversion and success of your marketing campaigns.

      Have an Easier Time with Fuzzy Searching

      There are times when customers or anyone else that visits your site could totally miss an item that you have on sale because they did not type in the keyword properly. When you install Elasticsearch, simple spelling errors will be overlooked by the search engine, and you will not have to worry about losing customers because of such small errors.

      Know How to Nurture Existing Customers

      In addition to getting other critical marketing data which you might need for your business, it is also important to invest in Kibana. It helps you learn more about the changing needs of your current customers. Kibana provides a graphical interface to analyze the data, allowing you to built scatter plots or bar graphs. When you understand the needs of your current consumers, you are able to refine your products and retain business.

      Faster Search Processes

      Another characteristic of people who are searching for things online, and on your site, is that they will tend to lean towards the search tools that have an autocomplete feature. Elasticsearch has the ability to make educated guesses about the searches which the customers are making. When the customer is happy about the ease of access and use, they will stay on your site longer and possibly make a purchase.

      With the right installation and fine-tuning, Elasticsearch can help you manage and grow your business.

      Flash Forward Sites does exactly what the name implies. The technology plan for your company, service and/or products can go from unknown to KNOWN in a FLASH with David’s skills and guidance.

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      Take Your Business to the Next Level with ERP Software

      There are various processes such as purchasing, sales, inventory, etc. that are involved in the running of a business. Enterprise Resource Planning is the use of software and technology to integrate core functions into a single system to streamline processes. The main feature of the ERP system is the centralization of information that is shared by multiple functions. This means that employees from different departments retrieve data from the same database.

      The system functions like the human central nervous system such that it receives information from different sources and link it to other parts of the business. It was first developed in 1972 by SAP, a German software company.

      Read more: Webopedia

      Benefits of ERP To Small Business

      Reduces Operational Cost

      One of the most significant benefits of ERP systems is the reduction of operational cost. Every industry is looking into lean business, trying to cut costs, and reduce waste. The industries that ERP can have the greatest impact though are the industries of manufacturing, construction, healthcare, and financial services. For a long time departments within a business required independent systems to operate. However, ERP helps to cut down on operational cost by coordinating all the aspects of the business into a centralized system. Apart from the operational cost, the ERP system also helps to reduce other costs such as inventory cost, marketing cost, etc.

      Read more: Contract ERP

      Increased Visibility

      The centralization of information helps to identify all the processes involved in running the business. This can help you make quick and informed decisions. For instance, you can track the inventory process on a daily basis. The information about inventory will help you control the working capital and other precise processes that determine the success of your business. Also, having a central database facilitates collaboration between employees within the company.

      Read more: SelectHub

      Improved Reporting and Planning

      Due to increased competition in the business world, analytics has become an integral part of running businesses. ERP promotes a single unified reporting system that makes it easy to generate analytics. Additionally, it eliminates the hassle of using multiple spreadsheets and emails when preparing reports. In fact, some common financial reports such as income and cash flow statements are simplified and can be retrieved without the help of a professional.

      What Industries Can Benefit from ERP?

      • Healthcare– The processes involved in the healthcare industry plays a crucial role in saving lives. Therefore, ERP is suited in this industry to streamline operations and improve the delivery of services.
      • Hospitality– ERP can be used in the hospitality industry to streamline processes and offer the customer the best service. Automated ERP systems can help reduce operational cost and significantly improve profits.
      • Construction – ERP software greatly assists construction companies in regards to managing schedules and establishing new margins as projects change and adapt over time. Setbacks are inevitable, it’s how you react to and plan ahead of those setbacks that make the critical difference. ERP can assist with CRM, cost estimation, bid management, project scheduling, inventory management, reporting, productivity/performance monitoring and more.  
      • Manufacturing and distribution– In the manufacturing industry, ERP systems can be used to organize operations and minimize wastage. Also, it enables distributors to keep the supply chain under control.

      If you need some help deciphering your Google analytics, and are trying to figure out what your next step is, make sure to see how we can help! Our Google analytics reporting can easily get you in the information you need, and give you some guidance on what sounds like the best course of action given the data. Start making sense of your analytics today!

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